segundo
/seˈɡundo/
The Spanish word segundo means second.
As an ordinal number, segundo means 'second', but it also means 'second' in the sense of a unit of time.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing to segunda for feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/seˈɡundo/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word según is a doublet of segundo. While one became a number, the other evolved into the word for 'according to'.
- In a formal duel or a highly specific historical context, a 'segundo' is not a unit of time, but the person who acts as a second or assistant to a duelist.
- In some Latin American countries, segundear is a slang verb meaning to treat someone as a subordinate or to keep them in a secondary position.
Examples in context
- El número dos es el segundo en la lista.The number two is the second on the list.
- Obtuvo el segundo lugar en el concurso de matemáticas.He/She got second place in the math contest.
- Nuestro equipo finalizó en segunda posición.Our team finished in second position.
- Me quedé en la segunda posición del juego.I stayed in second place in the game.
- ¡Te gané por un segundito!I beat you by a second!
- No era mi primera opción, sino la segunda.It wasn't my first choice, but the second one.
- El segundo lugar en el podio es para España.Second place on the podium goes to Spain.
- Juan es el segundo hijo en la familia.Juan is the second child in the family.
- Me gustaría ser el segundo en probar el pastel.I'd like to be the second to try the cake.
- Él llegó en segundo lugar.He arrived in second place.
- Es el segundo piso de la casa.It is the second floor of the house.
- Dame un segundo, por favor.Give me a second, please.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are organizing a list of tasks.
- AlejandroPrimero limpia la cocina, Alejandro.First clean the kitchen, Alejandro.
- ElenaEstá bien, ¿y qué hago segundo?Alright, and what do I do second?
- AlejandroSegundo, saca la basura.Second, take out the trash.
- ElenaVale, lo haré ahora mismo.Okay, I will do it right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry segundo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries segundo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
