siglos
“siglos” means “centuries” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
centuries
Also: ages
📝 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.
ages, forever
Also: donkeys' years
📝 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.
Translate to 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
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *saeculum*, which originally meant 'generation' or 'age,' but later came to mean a period of 100 years. The concept of 'time' is central to its history.
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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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.