quincena

Spanish

Etymology

From quince (“fifteen”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Spain) /kinˈθena/ [kĩn̟ˈθe.na]
• IPA^(key): (Latin America, Philippines) /kinˈsena/ [kĩnˈse.na]
• Rhymes: -ena
• Syllabification: quin‧ce‧na

Noun

quincena f (plural quincenas)

1. (time) a period of fifteen days
2. (time) a half month period, specially applied for wage payment
3. (economics) wage payment amount (in a half month period)

Usage notes

• For wage periods, it may begin from first day to 15th of month, called primera ("first"), or from 16th to last day of month, called segunda ("second").
• Second half of months having 31, and of February, are also called quincena, in spite of not having 15 days.

Derived terms

• quincenal

 

Related terms

• quinceavo

 

Descendants

• → Cebuano: kinsena

See also

• quinquenio

Further reading

• “quinceno”, in Diccionario de la lengua española (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy, 2023 November 28