segundos

/seh-GOON-dohs/

seconds

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.

As a noun, segundos can mean 'seconds' as in a second helping or serving of food.

segundos(Noun)

mA1

seconds

unit of time

Also:

seconds

another helping of food

📝 In Action

Un minuto tiene sesenta segundos.

A minute has sixty seconds.

Espera solo unos segundos, ya casi termino.

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

La sopa estaba tan rica que todos pidieron segundos.

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.

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Even though time itself doesn't have a gender, the word 'segundo' is masculine. So you'll always say 'los segundos' or 'unos segundos'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Asking Someone to Wait

Mistake: "Espera un segundo."

Correction: While technically correct, saying 'Espera unos segundos' (Wait a few seconds) or 'Un segundo, por favor' (One second, please) sounds more natural and polite when asking someone to wait for a moment.

⭐ Usage Tips

Offering More Food

At a meal with friends or family, asking '¿Alguien quiere segundos?' is a very common and warm way to offer another helping of the main dish.

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.

As an adjective, segundos means 'second' in order (for plural masculine nouns), such as the second group in a race.

segundos(Adjective)

mA1

second

ordinal number, for plural masculine nouns

📝 In Action

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

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.

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)

💡 Grammar Points

Adjectives that Match

This word is a describing word, so it has to match the thing it's describing. Use 'segundos' for masculine plural things, like 'los segundos libros' (the second books).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Order vs. Quantity

Mistake: "Tengo los dos carros."

Correction: If you mean 'the second cars' in a series, you must say 'Tengo los segundos carros'. The first sentence, 'Tengo los dos carros', simply means 'I have the two cars'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Placement is Key

Unlike many Spanish adjectives that come after the noun, words that show order (like 'primeros', 'segundos', 'terceros') almost always go before the word they are describing.

✏️ 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

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!