siglo
/SEE-glo/
century
The word siglo translates to century, representing a period of 100 years, visualized here by the immense growth and longevity of an ancient tree.
📝 In Action
El siglo XX fue un tiempo de grandes cambios tecnológicos.
B1The 20th century was a time of great technological changes.
Vivimos en el siglo veintiuno, pero aún tenemos que resolver problemas antiguos.
B2We live in the twenty-first century, but we still have old problems to solve.
💡 Grammar Points
Using Roman Numerals
Centuries are almost always written using Roman numerals (Siglo XXI, Siglo XV). When reading them aloud, use cardinal numbers (veintiuno, quince).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Confusion
Mistake: "La siglo."
Correction: Always use the masculine article: 'El siglo'. All nouns ending in '-o' are typically masculine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
When talking about specific historical periods, 'siglo' is the correct term, much like 'era' or 'age' in English.
When siglo means ages, it refers to a very long time, like the seemingly endless flow of this winding river stretching toward the horizon.
📝 In Action
Parece un siglo desde la última vez que fuimos de vacaciones.
B2It feels like ages since the last time we went on vacation.
¡Qué lento es este trámite! Llevo esperando un siglo.
C1This process is so slow! I've been waiting forever (literally: a century).
💡 Grammar Points
Use with 'Hacer'
You often use 'siglo' with the verb 'hacer' (hace un siglo) to mean 'it was a long time ago' or 'ages ago'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Exaggeration Tool
Use this meaning when you want to emphasize how long something felt. It's a common way to complain playfully about waiting or absence.
✏️ 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
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.