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siglo

SEE-glo/ˈsiɣlo/

“siglo” means “century” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

century

NounmB1
A majestic, large, ancient oak tree standing alone in a meadow, symbolizing a hundred years of growth and duration.

📝 In Action

El siglo XX fue un tiempo de grandes cambios tecnológicos.

B1

The 20th century was a time of great technological changes.

Vivimos en el siglo veintiuno, pero aún tenemos que resolver problemas antiguos.

B2

We live in the twenty-first century, but we still have old problems to solve.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • centuria (century (more formal/less common))

Common Collocations

  • cambio de siglo – turn of the century
  • el siglo de oro – the golden age (historical period)

ages

Also: forever
NounmB2informal
A deep, winding river flowing through a lush valley, disappearing into a distant, misty horizon, representing an extremely long, indefinite time.

📝 In Action

Parece un siglo desde la última vez que fuimos de vacaciones.

B2

It feels like ages since the last time we went on vacation.

¡Qué lento es este trámite! Llevo esperando un siglo.

C1

This process is so slow! I've been waiting forever (literally: a century).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • eternidad (eternity)
  • mucho tiempo (a long time)

Common Collocations

  • hace un siglo – ages ago / a long time ago

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "siglo" in Spanish:

ages→century→forever→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: siglo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'siglo' to mean 'a very long time,' rather than 100 years?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
secular(secular, non-religious) — Adjective
siglar(to initial/to date (rare verb)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
tingloarreglo
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin word *saeculum*, which originally meant 'generation' or 'age of man.' Over time, its meaning shifted to specifically denote a period of 100 years.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: séculoItalian: secolo

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I should say 'siglo veinte' or 'siglo veinteavo'?

Always use the simple cardinal number (veinte, veintiuno, quince). For centuries, Spanish uses cardinal numbers after the noun 'siglo,' unlike English which uses ordinals (20th, 21st).

Does 'siglo' have a feminine form?

'Siglo' is always a masculine noun, meaning 'the century.' It does not change gender.