siglos
/SEE-glohs/
centuries
The word siglos refers to multiple centuries, or periods of 100 years.
📝 In Action
La construcción de la catedral duró varios siglos.
A2The construction of the cathedral lasted several centuries.
Estamos en el siglo veintiuno, pero esta definición solo usa la forma plural.
B1We are in the twenty-first century, but this definition only uses the plural form.
Los historiadores estudian los cambios a través de los siglos.
B2Historians study changes throughout the centuries.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural
Since 'siglo' (century) is masculine, the plural form 'siglos' must always be used with masculine plural articles (los siglos) or adjectives.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
When talking about specific centuries, remember to use the definite article 'el' (el siglo XX) and Roman numerals are common.
Siglos can also be used as an exaggeration to mean 'ages' or 'a very long time.'
siglos(Noun)
ages
?a very long time (exaggeration)
,forever
?colloquial exaggeration
donkeys' years
?informal British English
📝 In Action
Hace siglos que no te veía, ¡qué alegría!
B1I haven't seen you in ages, what a joy!
Llevo aquí esperando siglos. ¿Cuándo llega el autobús?
B1I've been waiting here forever. When is the bus arriving?
Tardaste siglos en contestar el mensaje.
B2It took you ages to reply to the message.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Hacer' for Time
The phrase 'hace siglos' is key for saying 'ages ago.' It uses the verb 'hacer' (to do/make) to indicate a period of time elapsed: 'Hace [time period] que [event happened].'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'por' and 'hace'
Mistake: "Esperé por siglos."
Correction: Esperé siglos / Llevo esperando siglos. You usually don't need 'por' when using 'siglos' to mean 'a long time.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressive Language
Use 'siglos' when you want to sound dramatic or emphasize boredom or impatience. It is a very natural way to exaggerate in Spanish.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: siglos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'siglos' to mean an exaggerated, non-literal amount of time?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If 'siglo' is singular, why is 'siglos' (plural) so often used for exaggeration?
Using the plural 'siglos' helps emphasize the vastness of the time period, making the exaggeration more dramatic. It's a common pattern in Spanish to use plurals for emphasis (like 'gracias' instead of 'gracia').
¿Siglos is masculine or feminine?
Since the singular form 'siglo' ends in -o, 'siglos' is a masculine noun. You must always use masculine words like 'los' or 'muchos' with it.