Spanish “second” is segundo (m.) or segunda (f.); the spelling stays steady once you lock in the -gundo pattern.
English squeezes a lot of jobs into the word “second.” It can name a place in a race, the number after first, a tiny slice of time, or a backup pick (“my second choice”). Spanish splits those jobs across a few words, so spelling it right starts with one step: pick the meaning you mean.
This article keeps things hands-on. You’ll learn the standard spelling for the ordinal number, how gender changes the ending, where abbreviations show up in writing, and what to use when “second” isn’t an ordinal at all. Along the way you’ll get short drills you can do on paper or in a notes app.
What “second” means in Spanish
When “second” points to order (first, second, third), Spanish uses an ordinal adjective. In most everyday writing, that adjective is segundo (masculine) or segunda (feminine). You match it to the noun you’re describing, not to the person saying it.
When “second” means a unit of time, Spanish uses the noun segundo too. That can feel convenient, yet the grammar changes: one is an adjective (ordinal), the other is a noun (time). The spelling stays the same, so your job is mainly choosing the right form in the sentence.
When “second” means “backup” or “another,” Spanish often uses words like otro/otra or a phrase like en segundo lugar (in second place). That’s where learners slip: they push segundo into every English-shaped line, then wonder why it sounds stiff.
How to spell ‘second’ in Spanish
The base spellings are:
- segundo (masculine singular)
- segunda (feminine singular)
- segundos (masculine plural)
- segundas (feminine plural)
No accent marks. Spanish stress rules put the beat on gun (se-GUN-do), so the word doesn’t need a written accent. The middle vowel is u, and that’s the letter most people miss when they rush.
Spelling it letter by letter
If you want a no-drama spelling check, write it as a straight chain: s-e-g-u-n-d-o. Then swap the last letter for a when the noun is feminine: s-e-g-u-n-d-a. That’s it. No doubled letters, no silent extras, no odd accents.
One detail that helps: Spanish shortens primero to primer before many masculine nouns, and tercero to tercer. Segundo doesn’t shrink like that. You always write the full word.
Gender and endings
Ordinals act like adjectives, so they agree with the noun:
- el segundo capítulo
- la segunda lección
If the noun is plural, the ordinal goes plural too:
- los segundos pasos
- las segundas oportunidades
Abbreviations you’ll see in print
In schedules, lists, and formal writing, ordinals often appear as numerals with a small letter:
- 2.º = segundo
- 2.ª = segunda
That “º/ª” isn’t a math degree symbol, even if it looks close. It marks an ordinal. In casual typing you might see “2o” or “2a” when the proper character isn’t handy, though the neat forms look cleaner on a published page.
Sound cues that keep the spelling steady
Clear sound makes spelling calmer. Break the word into three chunks: se + gun + do/da. The first syllable is short (“seh”), the middle carries the beat, and the last is a crisp “doh” or “dah.”
The “g” sits between vowels (e-u), so it keeps a hard sound, close to the “g” in “go.” If you hear that hard “g,” you won’t be tempted to swap in a “j.” That mix-up happens with words where “g” softens before e or i, yet segundo isn’t in that group.
Also, Spanish u after g can go silent in gue/gui. Here it’s spoken, since we have gu + vowel in the next syllable. Say it slowly once or twice, then write it once. You’re training your hand to match the sound.
Before we switch to everyday phrases, here’s a compact map of where English “second” lands in Spanish. It’s handy when you’re choosing between an ordinal, a time unit, or a phrase.
If you’re writing a quiz answer, a resume bullet, or a science note, this chart lets you grab the right Spanish form in one glance and keep moving without hesitation.
| English use of “second” | Spanish word or phrase | How it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Second (ordinal) + masculine noun | segundo | el segundo día, el segundo intento |
| Second (ordinal) + feminine noun | segunda | la segunda vez, la segunda fila |
| Second place | segundo lugar / en segundo lugar | Rankings, lists, speeches |
| One second (time) | un segundo | Espera un segundo |
| Seconds (time, plural) | segundos | Faltan tres segundos |
| Second-hand (not new) | de segunda mano | Objects: clothes, books, phones |
| Second opinion | una segunda opinión | A fresh take on a decision |
| Second person (grammar) | segunda persona | tú, vosotros, usted forms |
| Second floor / second grade | segundo piso / segundo grado | Buildings, schools, levels |
Spelling ‘second’ in Spanish in real sentences
Once you’ve got the letters down, the next hurdle is choosing the right shape in a sentence. Spanish ordinals usually sit right before the noun: la segunda parte, el segundo examen. In a few set uses, the ordinal follows the name, as in monarchs’ regnal numbers: Juan Carlos segundo. Most learners can ignore that until they hit history texts.
Second as “another” or “backup”
English stacks meanings on “a second …” all the time. Spanish can do the same, yet it often prefers clarity. If you mean item number two in a sequence, un segundo café works. If you mean an extra coffee without stressing order, otro café sounds more natural.
The same choice pops up with “second option.” If order matters, use segunda opción; if you just mean “a different option,” use otra opción.
Second as time
Time uses are everywhere, so get comfortable with them early. In daily speech you’ll hear Espera un segundo (Wait a second) and Vuelvo en un segundo (I’ll be back in a second). The spelling is the same as the ordinal masculine form because the noun is el segundo.
If you write about timings in study notes—tests, typing speed, science lab work—you’ll also meet symbols: s for seconds and ms for milliseconds. Those are unit symbols, not ordinals, so don’t mix them with “2.º/2.ª.”
Second place and list order
To talk about rank, Spanish likes segundo lugar and the adverbial phrase en segundo lugar. That often matches English “secondly.” If you want a plain transition in a list, después (then/after) does the job without sounding stiff.
Typing º and ª without fuss
If you write Spanish on a laptop or phone, you’ll run into ordinal markers sooner or later. Here are a few common ways to type them, plus a fallback that still reads well.
Phone and tablet
On many mobile keyboards, press and hold the number 0 to bring up º, and press and hold a to bring up ª. Keyboard layouts differ, so poke around once and you’ll find the long-press menu.
Computer fallback
If you can’t type the marker, write the word instead: segundo/segunda. In casual notes, many people also use “2o” and “2a.” It’s readable, but the full word is cleaner if the text is going on a website or in a handout.
Common writing traps and clean fixes
Most spelling slips with segundo come from rushing or from mixing up meanings. The fixes are simple once you spot the pattern. The table below lists frequent errors and the clean replacement that keeps your Spanish tidy.
If you type a lot, your keyboard may try to “correct” Spanish into English. One practical move is to add segundo and segunda to your device dictionary, so your notes stop fighting you.
| Slip | Write this instead | Plain reason |
|---|---|---|
| segondo | segundo | Middle vowel is u |
| segúndo | segundo | No accent mark needed |
| segundo + feminine noun | segunda | Match the noun’s gender |
| segunda + masculine noun | segundo | Match the noun’s gender |
| 2.º used with a feminine noun | 2.ª | The marker changes too |
| Using s (seconds) as an ordinal | Use words or 2.º/2.ª | s is a unit symbol |
| Using segundo for “extra” when order doesn’t matter | otro/otra | “Extra” often uses otro |
| Borrowing “second” directly in Spanish text | segundo/segunda | Ordinals have fixed forms |
Mini drills that make the spelling stick
Reading a rule once doesn’t make it automatic. Short practice beats long sessions that fade. Try these drills on three different days. Keep each round under five minutes, then stop while it still feels easy.
Drill 1: Two-column swap
Write a list of nouns you use in study notes—capítulo, unidad, lección, página, tema. Next to each noun, write the correct form: segundo for masculine, segunda for feminine. Say the pair out loud as you write.
Drill 2: One-second sentences
Write five short lines that use the time noun segundo. Keep them plain:
- Espera un segundo.
- Solo necesito un segundo.
- En diez segundos, salimos.
- Faltan dos segundos.
- En un segundo vuelvo.
Now underline the u in segundo each time. You’re training your eye to catch the letter that often gets dropped.
Drill 3: Ordinal lists in two styles
Make a tiny list like a class schedule or a packing list. Write it once with the ordinal marker (2.º/2.ª) and once with words. Switching back and forth helps you read both styles without slowing down.
Drill 4: A 10-second self-check
When you write “second,” ask two yes/no questions:
- Is this rank or order? If yes, use segundo/segunda.
- Is this a time unit? If yes, use segundo as a noun.
If neither fits, write the idea with otro/otra or a phrase like en segundo lugar. That keeps your Spanish natural and avoids English copy-paste.
Links you may want while studying
If you like checking a word in a dictionary, these pages are handy and dependable:
Last note: segundo is standard for “second” as an ordinal, and the same spelling also names the time unit. Once you’ve written it a few dozen times, your hand starts to do it without effort.