Second/Segundo?

Question

In English, there are two different ways to say the word 'second'.

For example:

1. How much time does a second take?

2. I got second place in the race.

However, unlike many Spanish words for English equivalents, there is only one word in Spanish for the English word 'second'.

Why does "segundo" take place for one word that has two separate meanings?

Answer 1

In every language there are many words that have more than one meaning. In Spanish just look up any number of verbs: quedar, quitar, llevar, echar etc. They all have multiple meanings.

There are nouns of the same nature: techo = ceiling or roof, suelo = ground or floor, etc.

Context is what allows us to apply a particular meaning to a word in a sentence.

Thank you! - Matjam, Apr 19, 2016

I think you meant to say 'floor' instead of 'floo' :) - Matjam, Apr 19, 2016

Yep, I'm learning that with Pimsleur. But mostly learning this watching telenovelas and listening to music. It throws you off. Especially when you are watching a program and using English subtitles. Like when the subtitles say I see using entiendo - mndbnks, Apr 19, 2016

What I like is the differences in spoken vs subtitled language. It presents different ways of expressing the same thing. This helps open up your translating brain. - gringojrf, Apr 19, 2016

Pray tell, gringo, what is "coontext"? - Winkfish, Apr 20, 2016

When raccoons text each other? Typo. Thanks - gringojrf, Apr 20, 2016

Answer 2

The reason that the same word in both English and Spanish have the same disparate meanings is that they derive from the same usage ultimately from Latin:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=second

"one-sixtieth of a minute of degree," also "sixtieth part of a minute of time," late 14c. in geometry, from Old French seconde, from Medieval Latin secunda, short for secunda pars minuta "second diminished part," the result of the second division of the hour by sixty (the first being the "prime minute," now called the minute), from Latin secunda, fem. of secundus (see second (adj.)). The second hand of a clock is attested from 1759.

In adition to these uses (noun and adjective/adverb/ordinal number), in English you can "second" something (use the word as a verb), which can be translated as "secundar" in Spanish- also clearly rooted the same, but the Spanish did not end up the same (and has to have a verb ending).

I second that - Mardle, Apr 20, 2016

Answer 3

They are the same in Spanish as the are in English. The same usage that is.