Decade facts for kids
A decade (say: DEK-aid) is a period of 10 years. The word comes from the Ancient Greek word "deka," which means ten. Knowing about decades helps us talk about history and time in bigger chunks than just single years.
Ten decades make a century (100 years), and 100 decades make a millennium (1,000 years).
What is a Decade?
A decade is simply any period of ten years. For example, the years from 2001 to 2010 make up the 1st decade of the 21st century.
When someone is in their 20s, it means they are between 20 and 29 years old. This is their "20s decade."
How We Talk About Decades
We often use decades to talk about specific periods in history. For example, the years from 1980 to 1989 are called the nineteen-eighties (or 1980s). The years from 1990 to 1999 are the nineteen-nineties (or 1990s).
Sometimes, if it's clear what we're talking about, we shorten these names to just the eighties (80s) or the nineties (90s). We don't use an apostrophe before the 's' in these names.
Fun Decade Nicknames
Some decades even have special nicknames because of the big changes or events that happened during those years. Here are a few examples:
- The Roaring Twenties (1920s): This was a time of big economic growth and cultural change, especially in the United States.
- The Gay Nineties (1890s) in the US: This nickname described a time of fun and optimism.
- The Naughty Nineties (1890s) in the UK: This nickname was used in Britain for the same period.
- The Swinging Sixties (1960s): This decade was known for its exciting new music, fashion, and social changes.
See also
In Spanish: Década para niños
