Instantes

Instantes is the plural form of instante in Spanish and Portuguese, used to denote moments or instants in time. The term can refer to a precise point in time or to a very brief duration that separates events. In both languages, instantes can indicate the present moment or any specific instant within a sequence.

Etymology: Instante derives from Latin instāns, the present participle of instāre, meaning present or imminent. The word entered Spanish and Portuguese with the sense of a precise point in time and has retained a similar meaning across contexts.

Usage: In everyday speech, phrases like en este instante (Spanish) or neste instante (Portuguese) signal what is happening now. The singular instante is commonly used to mean “a moment” or “an instant,” as in “dame un instante.” In scientific and artistic contexts, instantes mark a single time point within a duration; in physics, for example, an instantaneous moment of time. In photography and cinema, the term can refer to the exact moment captured on film.

Cultural and linguistic notes: The plural instantes is often employed to evoke fleeting experiences or a sequence of moments, as when describing memories or events that unfold across several instants. Related terms include instante, momento and tiempo, which share overlapping senses related to time and punctuality.