Inklingo

How to Say "periods" in Spanish

English → Spanish

lecciones

lehk-SYOH-nes/lekˈsiones/

nounA1academic, school
Use 'lecciones' when referring to scheduled class times or distinct study sessions within a school or academic setting.
A colorful illustration showing a teacher pointing to an open book while several young students listen intently, representing a unit of instruction.

Examples

Hoy tenemos tres lecciones de matemáticas y una de historia.

Today we have three math lessons and one history lesson.

¿Cuántas lecciones quedan antes del examen final?

How many lessons are left before the final exam?

Plural of 'Lección'

The singular form is 'lección,' which ends in '-ción.' When making this word plural, you add '-es' and the accent mark disappears: 'lección' becomes 'lecciones.'

Incorrect Gender

Mistake: “Los lecciones”

Correction: Las lecciones. Remember that 'lección' is always a feminine word, so it must be used with feminine words like 'las' or 'estas.'

tiempos

tee-EHM-pos/ˈtjem.pos/

nounA1general, historical
Use 'tiempos' to talk about general segments of duration or historical eras, often referring to a past period.
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.

Examples

En aquellos tiempos, la vida era mucho más simple.

In those times, life was much simpler.

Recordamos los viejos tiempos con mucha nostalgia.

We remember the old times with a lot of nostalgia.

Estos son malos tiempos para la economía global.

These are bad times for the global economy.

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.

momentos

/moh-men-tohs//moˈmentos/

nounB1general, emotional
Use 'momentos' to refer to specific, often brief, points in time or particular phases within a larger situation or life experience.
A simple, continuous illustration showing a single character represented in three distinct life phases: a baby crawling, a child riding a bicycle, and an adult sitting calmly under a tree, symbolizing different periods.

Examples

Mi familia pasó por momentos muy duros el año pasado.

My family went through very tough times last year.

Hay que tener paciencia en estos momentos de incertidumbre.

One must be patient in these periods of uncertainty.

Verbs of Passing Time

This meaning often pairs with verbs like 'pasar por' (to go through) or 'vivir' (to experience) to describe enduring a phase.

Confusing 'momentos' and 'oportunidades'

Mistake: “Tuve muchos momentos de hacer eso (when meaning chances).”

Correction: Tuve muchas oportunidades de hacer eso. ('Momentos' is time; 'oportunidades' are chances.)

Confusing 'tiempos' and 'momentos'

Learners often confuse 'tiempos' and 'momentos'. Remember that 'tiempos' refers to broader historical periods or segments of time, while 'momentos' signifies specific, often shorter, instances or phases within a situation.

Related Translations

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