Spanish Conversation · Level 25
89 words
Spanish word
instante
Pronunciation
IPA/insˈtante/
Meaning
- masculine nouninstant
Example
Volvió en un instante.
He returned in an instant.
More examples
Lo solucionó en un instante.
He solved it in an instant.
Core concept
A tiny marker between two clock ticks.
Common phrases
en un instante
in an instant
en el instante en que
at the instant when
un instante de calma
a moment of calm
Similar words
momento: A brief point in time singled out by a particular event.
segundo: A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute (one second).
minuto: A unit of time equal to sixty seconds.
Definition in Spanish
Momento muy breve que marca un punto preciso en el tiempo.
Word origin
From Latin instans/instantem, the present participle of instare 'to press upon', the word shifts from 'pressing close' to mean a single immediate point in time.
Usage tips
- To express 'immediately' Spanish often uses 'al instante' or 'en un instante', so pair instante with a preposition for adverbial senses.
Other meanings
- momentnoun
- split secondnoun
Opposites
- eternidadeternitynoun
- permanenciapermanencenoun
Related words
- instantáneoinstantaneousadjective
- instantáneamenteinstantlyadverb