Adjective
/teɾˈθeɾa/ or /teɹˈsɛːɹə/ (depending on the regional pronunciation)
"Tercera" is primarily used as an adjective in Spanish to indicate the position of something in a sequence, specifically the one that comes after the second and before the fourth. It is commonly used in various contexts such as enumerations, lists, and when referring to ranks or levels. The frequency of use is relatively high, particularly in both oral speech and written contexts, making it an essential term in daily conversation and formal documentation.
Ella es la tercera en la fila.
(She is the third in line.)
La tercera opción es la más conveniente.
(The third option is the most convenient.)
El tercer trimestre del año es muy importante para las ventas.
(The third quarter of the year is very important for sales.)
While "tercera" is not typically featured prominently in idiomatic expressions, it is often used in phrases that convey order or ranking. Here are some related examples:
El tercer hombre.
(The third man.)
Used to refer to an additional or unexpected participant in a situation.
Tercera vez es la vencida.
(Third time is the charm.)
Meaning that after two failures, the third attempt is likely to succeed.
Tercero en discordia.
(Third party in discord.)
Refers to a person who is involved in a conflict or situation but is not one of the primary parties.
Tercer ciclo de estudios.
(Third cycle of studies.)
Refers to a specific educational level or phase in academic programs.
"Tercera" originates from Latin "tertius," which also means "third." The evolution from Latin to Spanish involved the formation of various related terms within the Romance language family.