época

/AY-poh-kah/

era

A storybook illustration of a medieval knight in shining armor standing next to a large stone castle wall, symbolizing a historical era.

Use época to refer to a historical period or era.

época(noun)

fA2

era

historical period

age

significant time frame

Also:

epoch

formal or geological time scale

📝 In Action

La época victoriana fue un periodo de gran cambio social.

The Victorian era was a period of great social change.

Fue una época difícil para mi abuela.

It was a difficult time for my grandmother.

Esta es la época de oro de la televisión.

This is the golden age of television.

Word Connections

Synonyms

periodo (period)
siglo (century)

Common Collocations

una época dorada – a golden age
hacer época – to make history / to make an impact

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Articles

Even though 'época' starts with a strong 'A' sound (like 'agua' or 'águila'), it is a feminine noun and always uses the feminine article 'la' or 'una' ('la época', 'una época').

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Usage

You will often see 'época' in historical books or academic discussions when dividing time into major segments.

A simple storybook illustration of a small tree during autumn, with bright orange and red leaves falling onto the green grass, representing a season.

Época can also refer to a specific season or time of year.

época(noun)

fB1

season

specific time of year (e.g., rain, Christmas)

time

period reserved for an activity

Also:

period

specific span for an event

📝 In Action

Estamos en la época de cosecha de uvas.

We are in the grape harvest season.

La mejor época para visitar la ciudad es en primavera.

The best time to visit the city is in spring.

Llegó la época de lluvias, trae tu paraguas.

The rainy season has arrived, bring your umbrella.

Word Connections

Synonyms

temporada (season (often commercial/sports))
momento (moment)

Common Collocations

época navideña – Christmas time
época escolar – school year/term
época de calor – hot season

💡 Grammar Points

Connecting to Activities

To specify what kind of season it is, use the structure 'época de' plus a noun (e.g., época de exámenes = exam time; época de frío = cold season).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Época' and 'Tiempo'

Mistake: "Saying 'El tiempo de Navidad' when referring to the whole Christmas season."

Correction: Use 'La época de Navidad' (or 'Navideña') when referring to the longer cultural season; reserve 'tiempo' for weather or general time.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: época

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'época' to describe a specific time of year for an activity?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

epocal(pertaining to an era) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'época' always feminine?

Yes, 'época' is always a feminine noun. You must use 'la' before it, as in 'la época,' unlike similar-sounding words like 'agua' or 'águila' that switch to 'el' when singular.

What is the difference between 'época' and 'tiempo'?

'Tiempo' is general time, or the weather. 'Época' refers to a defined, significant period, whether historical (the Roman era) or cyclical (the rainy season). Think of 'época' as a chunk of 'tiempo'.