era común
/eɾa komun/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "common era" is translated into Spanish as era común. Wiktionary also lists era vulgar.
Meaning: secular equivalent of anno Domini and the Christian Era (name)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| era común | /eɾa komun/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| era vulgar | /eɾa bulɡaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
This phrase is the secular equivalent of "anno Domini" or the Christian Era.
Which one should you use?
While era común is the standard, neutral translation used in academic and secular contexts, era vulgar is another way to express the concept.
Did you know?
- While era común is the standard neutral term, the older variant era vulgar does not mean the era is 'low class' or 'rude'. It stems from the Latin 'vulgus', meaning 'the common people', and refers to the era used by the general public rather than the liturgical calendar.
- In Spanish, the term era española refers to a specific historical calendar used in the Iberian Peninsula that began in 38 BC, rather than the modern 'common era'.
- While era común is the direct translation of 'common era', Spanish speakers often use the abbreviation e.c. in academic texts to distinguish it from d.C, which stands for después de Cristo.
Examples in context
- La Era Común se suele utilizar en la cronología occidental a partir del año 1.The Common Era is usually used in Western chronology starting from the year 1.
- El texto menciona la era común.The text mentions the common era.
- Muchos historiadores prefieren usar la era común.Many historians prefer to use the common era.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are studying history in a library.
- DanielSofía, ¿qué significa la abreviatura E.C.?Sofía, what does the abbreviation C.E. mean?
- SofíaSignifica era común, Daniel.It means common era, Daniel.
- DanielEs lo mismo que decir después de Cristo.It is the same as saying after Christ.
- SofíaSí, pero la era común es un término neutral.Yes, but common era is a neutral term.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “common era” translations and entries era común, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
