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segundos

seh-GOON-dohs/seˈɣundos/

“segundos” means “seconds” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

seconds

Also: seconds
NounmA1
A child is happily receiving a second, full bowl of steaming soup from an adult's hand at a dinner table, illustrating a second helping of food.

📝 In Action

Un minuto tiene sesenta segundos.

A1

A minute has sixty seconds.

Espera solo unos segundos, ya casi termino.

A2

Wait just a few seconds, I'm almost done.

La sopa estaba tan rica que todos pidieron segundos.

B1

The soup was so good that everyone asked for seconds.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • en cuestión de segundos – in a matter of seconds
  • ganar por segundos – to win by seconds

Idioms & Expressions

  • contar los segundos – To wait anxiously or impatiently for something to happen.

second

Three groups of male runners are crossing a finish line. The middle group is emphasized to show that they are the 'second' group in a sequence.

📝 In Action

Vivimos en el segundo piso, pero mis abuelos viven en los segundos apartamentos a la derecha.

A2

We live on the second floor, but my grandparents live in the second apartments on the right.

Los segundos intentos suelen ser mejores que los primeros.

B1

Second attempts are usually better than the first ones.

Word Connections

Antonyms

  • primeros (first)
  • últimos (last)

Common Collocations

  • los segundos lugares – the second places
  • de segunda mano – second-hand / used (Note: this phrase is always singular)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "segundos" in Spanish:

seconds→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: segundos

Question 1 of 2

If a friend at dinner asks, '¿Quieres segundos?', what are they offering you?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
segundo(second) — Noun / Adjective
segundero(second hand (of a clock)) — Noun
secundario(secondary) — Adjective
segundar(to second, to repeat) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
mundosprofundosrotundos
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'secundus', which means 'following' or 'the one that follows'. This makes perfect sense, as the second thing always follows the first! The idea of a 'second' of time came from it being the 'second' division of the hour by sixty (the first being the minute).

First recorded: Around the 13th century.

Cognates (Related words)

English: secondFrench: secondItalian: secondoPortuguese: segundo

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'segundos' and 'dos'?

'Segundos' shows order (like in a race: first, second, third). 'Dos' shows quantity (how many things there are, like two apples). For example, 'los segundos coches' means 'the second cars' in a line, while 'dos coches' just means 'two cars' in total.

Can 'segundos' also mean the main course of a meal?

Yes, but usually in its singular form. In Spain, 'el segundo' often refers to the main course ('el segundo plato'). The plural 'segundos' is much more common for 'seconds' (another helping). Context is key!