período
/pe-RÍ-oh-doh/
period
Visualizing a período (period) as a duration of time and growth.
período(noun)
period
?duration of time
,term
?academic/political time frame
interval
?a break or pause
📝 In Action
El período de exámenes es muy estresante.
A2The exam period is very stressful.
Estudió en el extranjero por un período de seis meses.
B1She studied abroad for a period of six months.
La crisis ocurrió durante el período de la posguerra.
B2The crisis occurred during the postwar period.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Remember to always use the masculine article 'el' or 'un' before 'período', even though it ends in '-o' like many masculine words.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'de'
To specify the duration, use 'un período de [time]': 'un período de tres años' (a period of three years).
The word período can also refer to a menstrual period.
📝 In Action
Mi período empezó hoy y tengo cólicos.
B1My period started today and I have cramps.
¿Cuándo fue tu último período?
B1When was your last period?
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Trap
Mistake: "Using 'la período' (feminine)."
Correction: Remember 'período' is always masculine: 'el período'. The related, common word 'la regla' is feminine, which causes confusion.
⭐ Usage Tips
Common Alternative
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people often use the shorter, more informal word 'la regla' instead of 'el período' in casual conversation about this topic.
When referring to a recurring event, período means cycle.
📝 In Action
El período de rotación de la Tierra es de 24 horas.
C1The rotation period of the Earth is 24 hours.
Se calculó el período de vida media del isótopo.
C2The half-life period of the isotope was calculated.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Clues
When you see 'período' used in a scientific text, it almost always means the time it takes for a full cycle or rotation to complete.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: período
Question 1 of 2
¿Qué significado tiene 'período' en la frase 'El período de tres años'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'período' masculine or feminine?
It is always masculine. You must use 'el período' or 'un período'. This is often confusing because the related word 'la regla' (period/menstruation) is feminine.
Why does 'período' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'í' is there to tell you how to pronounce it correctly. It forces the stress to fall on the third syllable (pe-RÍ-o-do), preventing it from being pronounced as a two-syllable word.