Second - Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The Word “Second”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The word “second” is a versatile term in the English language, commonly used as both a noun and an adjective. It can refer to a specific unit of time, an ordinal position in a sequence, or even signify an additional or supporting role. This article will explore the various meanings and uses of “second”, followed by its translations into 30 different languages, along with example sentences to illustrate how it is used in different contexts.

Meaning of “Second” in Different Contexts

1. Unit of Time (Noun):

The most common use of the word “second” refers to a unit of time. It is one-sixtieth of a minute and is used to measure brief intervals of time.

Example: “It only took a few seconds to answer the question.” In this context, “second” is used as a unit of time to measure the brief duration it took to answer.

2. Ordinal Number (Adjective):

“Second” is often used to indicate the position of something in a sequence. When something is in second place, it comes after the first but before the third.

Example: “She finished second in the race.” Here, “second” refers to the position in a sequence (after first and before third).

3. A Person Supporting an Idea (Noun):

In meetings or formal discussions, “second” can refer to the person who supports a motion or idea that has been proposed by someone else.

Example: “I second the motion to approve the budget.” In this case, the person who “seconds” a motion is supporting or agreeing with the initial proposal.

4. A Second Attempt or Opportunity (Noun):

In some contexts, “second” is used to refer to a second attempt, chance, or opportunity to do something.

Example: “He asked for a second chance to prove himself.” Here, “second” refers to an additional opportunity.

5. In Sports (Noun/Adjective):

In sports, “second” can refer to a competitor who finishes in second place or to an event that occurs in a sequence.

Example: “The runner finished second in the marathon.” “Second” here is used to describe the person who finishes in the second position in a race.

6. A Supporting or Subordinate Role (Noun):

In some contexts, “second” is used to refer to a person in a subordinate or supporting role. For example, a “second-in-command” is someone who supports the leader.

Example: “He is the second-in-command at the company.” This use refers to a position of authority, but one that supports or follows the primary leader.

7. In Music (Noun):

In music, “second” can refer to an interval, such as a “major second” or a “minor second,” which is a musical interval between two notes.

Example: “The piece begins with a second interval between the first two notes.” Here, “second” is used to describe a specific musical interval.

Translations of the Word “Second” in 30 Languages

Below is a table showing the translation of “second” in 30 different languages, along with example sentences in each language to illustrate its meaning in context.

Language	Translation	Example Sentence (in the target language)	English Translation of Example
English	Second	“It only took a few seconds to answer the question.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Spanish	Segundo	“Solo tomó unos segundos responder a la pregunta.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
French	Seconde	“Cela n’a pris que quelques secondes pour répondre à la question.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
German	Sekunde	“Es dauerte nur ein paar Sekunden, um die Frage zu beantworten.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Italian	Secondo	“Ci sono voluti solo pochi secondi per rispondere alla domanda.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Portuguese	Segundo	“Demorou apenas alguns segundos para responder à pergunta.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Russian	Секунда (Sekunda)	“Потребовалось всего несколько секунд, чтобы ответить на вопрос.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Chinese (Simplified)	秒 (Miǎo)	“只用了几秒钟回答问题。”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Japanese	秒 (Byō)	“質問に答えるのに数秒しかかかりませんでした。”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Korean	초 (Cho)	“질문에 답하는 데 몇 초밖에 걸리지 않았습니다.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Hindi	सेकंड (Sekand)	“सवाल का उत्तर देने में कुछ सेकंड ही लगे।”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Bengali	সেকেন্ড (Sekend)	“প্রশ্নের উত্তর দিতে কিছু সেকেন্ড সময় লেগেছিল।”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Urdu	سیکنڈ (Second)	“سوال کا جواب دینے میں چند سیکنڈ ہی لگے۔”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Turkish	Saniye	“Soruyu cevaplamak sadece birkaç saniye sürdü.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Dutch	Seconde	“Het duurde maar een paar seconden om de vraag te beantwoorden.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Greek	Δευτερόλεπτο (Defterolepto)	“Χρειάστηκαν μόνο μερικά δευτερόλεπτα για να απαντήσει στην ερώτηση.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Swedish	Sekund	“Det tog bara några sekunder att svara på frågan.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Danish	Sekund	“Det tog kun et par sekunder at svare på spørgsmålet.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Finnish	Sekunti	“Vastauksen antaminen vei vain muutaman sekunnin.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Norwegian	Sekund	“Det tok bare noen sekunder å svare på spørsmålet.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Polish	Sekunda	“Odpowiedź na pytanie zajęła tylko kilka sekund.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Czech	Sekunda	“Na odpověď na otázku stačilo jen pár sekund.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Hungarian	Másodperc	“Csak pár másodpercbe telt válaszolni a kérdésre.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Hebrew	שנייה (Shniyah)	“זה לקח רק כמה שניות לענות על השאלה.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Thai	วินาที (Wīnāthī)	“มันใช้เวลาเพียงไม่กี่วินาทีในการตอบคำถาม”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Vietnamese	Giây	“Chỉ mất vài giây để trả lời câu hỏi.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Indonesian	Detik	“Hanya butuh beberapa detik untuk menjawab pertanyaan.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Filipino	Segundo	“Inabot lang ng ilang segundo upang sagutin ang tanong.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Malay	Saat	“Hanya mengambil beberapa saat untuk menjawab soalan.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Swahili	Pili	“Ilichukua sekunde chache tu kujibu swali.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)
Arabic	ثانية (Thaniyah)	“استغرق الأمر بضع ثوانٍ فقط للإجابة على السؤال.”	(It only took a few seconds to answer the question.)

Final Thoughts

The word “second” is a simple yet highly versatile term in English. It serves multiple functions, whether referring to time, position in a sequence, a supporting role, or even an additional opportunity. Its meanings vary depending on the context in which it is used, but it is universally recognized and used across languages. By exploring its translations in 30 different languages, we can see how the concept of being “second” in time, sequence, or position transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, making it an essential word in global communication.