era
nounCEFR B2
What does “era” mean in English?
era, age — a long and distinct historical or cultural period
era, age — a long and distinct historical or cultural period (la era digital; la era industrial; una nueva era)
Example sentences
Vivimos en la era de la información, aunque la sobrecarga de datos dificulta el acceso al conocimiento relevante.
We live in the information age, yet data overload makes access to relevant knowledge more difficult.
El descubrimiento de los antibióticos marcó el inicio de una nueva era en la medicina moderna.
The discovery of antibiotics marked the beginning of a new era in modern medicine.
La era glacial dejó una huella geológica que aún es visible en los paisajes de montaña del norte de Europa.
The ice age left a geological imprint that is still visible in the mountain landscapes of northern Europe.
How to use it
La era (noun, feminine) means 'era, age' — a distinct and lengthy historical period. At B2 it is used in historical, technological, and cultural discourse. Core collocations: la era digital/industrial/de la información; una nueva era; la era glacial; en la era moderna; marcar el inicio de una nueva era. Distinguish from época (epoch/era — more specific, can be shorter) and etapa (stage — often part of a process). Era implies a long, defining period characterised by a dominant feature.
Common mistake
Era and época both translate as 'era/epoch', but era implies a longer and more defining period. Don't confuse with etapa (stage — usually shorter and part of a sequence). 'In the digital era' = en la era digital (not *en la época digital, though both are used at B2).