Inklingo
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tiempos

/tee-EHM-pos/

times

A winding path illustrating different historical eras, featuring a large silhouette of a dinosaur representing prehistory, a medieval stone castle, and a stylized futuristic silver building.

In this context, 'tiempos' means 'times' or 'eras,' referring to distinct historical periods.

tiempos(noun)

mA1

times

?

historical periods or eras

,

periods

?

segments of duration

Also:

ages

?

meaning eras or long periods

📝 In Action

En aquellos tiempos, la vida era mucho más simple.

A2

In those times, life was much simpler.

Recordamos los viejos tiempos con mucha nostalgia.

B1

We remember the old times with a lot of nostalgia.

Estos son malos tiempos para la economía global.

A2

These are bad times for the global economy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • épocas (eras)
  • momentos (moments)

Common Collocations

  • los buenos tiempos – the good times
  • tiempos modernos – modern times

Idioms & Expressions

  • A los tiempos de Dios – When the time is right, or in God's time (when something happens naturally, not rushed).

💡 Grammar Points

Plural vs. Singular

While 'tiempo' (singular) often means 'time' or 'weather,' 'tiempos' (plural) almost always means historical periods, eras, or the general state of things.

⭐ Usage Tips

Historical Context

Use 'tiempos' when discussing history, memory, or comparing the present state to the past state of affairs.

Three sequential panels illustrating verb tenses. Panel one (Past): A figure sitting next to a half-eaten sandwich. Panel two (Present): The same figure actively taking a bite of the sandwich. Panel three (Future): The figure holding a whole sandwich, anticipating eating it.

Here, 'tiempos' refers to 'tenses,' the grammatical forms used to indicate when an action happens (past, present, or future).

tiempos(noun)

mB1

tenses

?

grammar, verb forms

,

beats

?

music or rhythm

Also:

halves

?

parts of a game, e.g., basketball or soccer

📝 In Action

Necesitas aprender los tiempos verbales del subjuntivo.

B2

You need to learn the subjunctive verb tenses.

El segundo tiempo del partido fue mucho más emocionante.

B1

The second half of the game was much more exciting.

Ella perdió el ritmo y no pudo seguir los tiempos de la música.

B1

She lost the rhythm and couldn't follow the beats of the music.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • modalidades (modes/forms (grammar))
  • ritmos (rhythms (music))

Common Collocations

  • tiempos compuestos – compound tenses (grammar)
  • cambio de tiempos – change of rhythm/tempo

💡 Grammar Points

Grammar Context

When talking about grammar, 'tiempos' refers to the different forms verbs take to show when an action happened (past, present, future).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Time vs. Tense

Mistake: "Using 'horas' (hours) or 'minutos' (minutes) when you mean grammatical 'tiempos'."

Correction: 'Tiempos' in this context is purely academic; it refers to verbal conjugation forms, not measured duration.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tiempos

Question 1 of 1

Which of these sentences correctly uses 'tiempos' to mean a historical era?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tiempo(time / weather (singular)) - noun
temporal(temporary / storm (adjective/noun)) - adjective
temporada(season (of the year or TV)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'tiempos' ever mean 'weather'?

Rarely. While the singular 'tiempo' is often used for weather (e.g., 'hace buen tiempo'), the plural 'tiempos' almost exclusively means historical periods, eras, or verb tenses.

How is 'tiempos' different from 'épocas'?

'Tiempos' is very broad (like 'the times we live in'). 'Épocas' usually refers to more defined or official historical periods, like 'the Roman era' or 'the Victorian age.'