quincenal
/kinθeˈnal/
The Spanish word for biweekly is quincenal.
Quincenal is an adjective used to describe something that occurs every two weeks. If you want to express the concept of 'every two weeks' as an adverb, you can use quincenalmente or the phrase cada dos semanas. When referring to a publication that is released once every two weeks, the noun bisemanario is used.
Meaning: occurring every two weeks (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective quincenal is derived from the word quince, which means fifteen. This refers to the fifteen-day period often used in many Spanish-speaking calendar and payroll systems.
Which one should you use?
While quincenal is a single-word adjective, cada dos semanas serves as a common and more descriptive alternative to express the frequency 'every two weeks'. If you are referring to a noun like a magazine or newspaper that is released on this schedule, use bisemanario.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/kinθeˈnal/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking workplaces, the word quincena describes the specific window of the 1st to the 15th or the 16th to the end of the month. This makes quincenal about calendar divisions rather than a strict count of 14 days.
- While 'biweekly' is often ambiguous in English, quincenal never means 'twice a week'. To say something happens twice a week, a Spanish speaker would use bisemanal.
- The word bisemanario can be highly ambiguous, as it can refer to a publication released every two weeks or one released twice a week.
Examples in context
- Me pagan quincenalmente.I'm paid biweekly.This sentence demonstrates how to use the adverbial form of quincenal to describe the frequency of payments.Tatoeba #2908853 by baudelaire, translation #1623869 by Spamster
- La reunión es cada dos semanasThe meeting is biweekly
- El informe se presenta de forma quincenalThe report is submitted biweekly
- Vamos al cine cada dos semanasWe go to the movies every two weeks
- Hago ejercicio cada 15 díasI exercise every 15 days
- Tengo una reunión importante cada segunda semanaI have an important meeting every second week
- Recibimos el sueldo quincenalmenteWe receive our salary every two weeks
- Tenemos una reunión quincenal.We have a biweekly meeting.
- La revista es de publicación quincenal.The magazine is a biweekly publication.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are discussing their work schedule in an office.
- María¿Es una reunión semanal o quincenal?Is it a weekly or a biweekly meeting?
- MateoEs quincenal, así que no es tan seguido.It is biweekly, so it is not that frequent.
- MaríaQué bueno, tengo mucho trabajo.That is good, I have a lot of work.
- MateoTe entiendo, yo también estoy ocupado.I understand you, I am busy too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “biweekly” translations and entries quincenal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
