how long is a decade?

A decade is a period of time equivalent to 10 years. The word “decade” originally stems from the Greek word dekas (δεκάς), meaning “a group of ten.”

This word was transmitted through the Romans, who commonly used the prefix dec- to describe collections of 10 items, such as a decathlon, a collection of 10 athletic challenges, or a decagon, a regular 10-sided polygon. Other divisions of time that derive from Latin include the century (100 years) and the millennium (1000 years).

Technically, any group of 10 years is its own decade. The term “decade” is generally used to refer to periods of time based on the tens digit of the calendar year. So the “1980s” refers to the decade of time between 1980–1989.

Since the Gregorian calendar begins on 1 AD (there is no year 0 in the Gregorian calendar), the first decade of the Gregorian calendar refers to the period of time between 1–10 AD, the second decade refers to 11–20 AD, etc. So, even though “the nineties” refers to the years between 1990-1999 AD, the 200th decade refers to the time between 1991–2000 AD.

An event that recurs every decade is called decennial. Similarly, an event that recurs every 100 years is a centennial event and every 1000 years is a millennial event. For example, the U.S. government administers a census decennially; every 10 years. Many high school and college reunions occur every 10 years as well.

Decades have come to culturally symbolize a kind of rebirth; a clean slate from which people can start again. The identification of a decade as a distinct period of time that divides our experience has given the concept of “decade” a lot of symbolic meaning. Decades throughout U.S. history are often referred to by a nickname that encapsulates major cultural events or symbolizes the general cultural ethos during that time. For example, “the Roaring Twenties” refers to the 1920s, a time of great economic growth and sociocultural change. The 1940s are sometimes referred to as “The Fighting Forties” as a reference to the United States’ involvement in both the European and Pacific theatres of WWII. In some ways, the decade is the historical unit of time; history is often divided into events that occurred in their respective decades.

A decade is just a name for one particular span of time on a calendar (10 years). Other names for spans of calendar time include:

A decade is a period of 10 years. The term "decade" comes from the Greek word "deka," which means "ten". A decade refers to a consecutive period of ten years.

The concept of the decade has been used throughout history to mark significant periods of time. For example, the ancient Greeks used the decade as a unit of time in their system of organizing the calendar. In the Western world, the idea of a decade as a significant period of time was popularized in the 20th century, particularly in the 1920s, which were known as the "Roaring Twenties."

In contemporary usage, the decade is often used as a convenient way to measure time for planning, analysis, and cultural or historical discussions. For instance, we might refer to the 1960s as a decade of social upheaval and political change or the 1980s as a decade of economic growth and technological advancements.

The first decade of the 21st century refers to the period from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2010. This decade is sometimes referred to as the "2000s" or the "naughties".

There are 120 months in a decade

There are 12 months in a year * 10 years in a decade = 120 months in a decade.

There are 521.429 weeks in a decade

There are 52.1429 weeks in a year * 10 years in a decade = 521,429 weeks in a decade.

There are exactly 3652.5 days in a decade on average.

There are 365.25 days in a year * 10 years in a decade = 3652.5 days in a decade.

However, the exact number of days in a particular decade varies depending on how many leap years are in that decade. A decade can have 1, 2, or 3 leap years, so a decade may have 3651, 3652 or 3653 days.

There are 87660 hours in a decade

There are 24 hours in a day * 365.25 days in a year * 10 years in a decade = 87,660 hours in a decade.

A decade is 5,259,600 minutes long.

There are 60 minutes in an hour * 24 hours in a day * 365.25 days in a year * 10 years in a decade = 5,259,600 minutes in a decade.

A decade is 315,576,000 seconds long.

Sometimes you might hear someone say that they’ve done something or known someone for a decade.

If you’re not familiar with that term, then you may be unsure what they mean.

Here’s what you need to know about what a decade means and other similar terms.

A decade is a period of 10 years.

The name comes from the Greek word “deka.”

Deka or deca means a group of 10.

You can use the word decade to describe anything that has occurred for a span of 10 years.

While a decade may describe a period of 10 years, there’s a different term to describe a period of 20 years.

It isn’t a double decade.

Instead, people use the term vicennial.

Vicennial is a period of 20 years.

The term changes again when you’re describing 100 years.

When you want to describe a period of 100 years, you don’t use the word “decade” to describe it.

A span of 100 years is called a centennial.

The term centennial only describes a period of 100 years.

If 1,000 years pass, then you may wonder how to describe that period.

A millennium is what you call a period of 1,000 years.

That’s why the generation that was born around the year 2000 has been referred to as “Millennials.”

Considering that a decade is a period of 10 years, you may wonder how a year is even calculated.

It took humans some time to perfect how long a year should last.

Some even argue to this day about changing the calendar to better match the course of a year.

Humans currently measure a year by the time it takes for the Earth to complete a full rotation around the sun.

Generally, the Earth takes 365 days to do a full rotation around the sun.

Since it takes 365 days, humans say that a year is 365 days.

Since a decade encompasses a period of 10 years, this means that a decade is an important milestone for some—be it a birthday, a work anniversary, or something else momentous.

A decade is both relative and finite.

For example, calendar years are often clustered together in groups of 10s.

Each decade has its own name and significant changes occurred within it.

Yet, decades are also relative.

You may have started working at a particular company 10 years ago, but someone else may have only worked there for five years so your anniversary is not important to them.

As such, there are several different ways that people celebrate decade milestones.

Here are some of those ways.

One of the most common decade milestones that people celebrate is when a new period of 10 years begins.

For example, the year 2020 marked the start of a new decade.

While there wasn’t much of a celebration thanks to the pandemic that was occurring, decades past have been a major cause for celebration.

When 1999 switched to 2000, for example, there was a lot of celebration over entering the new millennium.

There was also a lot of fear with the unknowns of Y2K and concerns over computers crashing.

Nothing occurred, of course, and the world charged into the Internet age.

Most of these decade celebrations occur on New Year’s Eve.

People gather together to stay awake until midnight to bring in the new year.

When the decade changes, some people might splurge a bit more.

One of the most famous places to be for the NYE countdown is in New York City.

The change from one decade to the next usually results in a pretty big party.

Another milestone that often gets measured in decades is your age.

There are a few birthdays that are quite significant.

18 is a big one since you become a legal adult.

21 is another big birthday since you’re able to start legally drinking.

After that, however, the importance then shifts to each decade.

Turning 30 is sometimes a big deal because it signifies the end of young adulthood.

Another big decade of importance is when you turn 50.

Many consider 50 to be the middle point of your life.

A lot of people will throw parties to celebrate this milestone in their life.

Turning 70 is another milestone as many people usually retire at or just before this age.

It tends to symbolize the end of your working career and a new life as a retired senior instead.

If you make it to 100 years old, then you’re not only celebrating another decade of life.

You’re also celebrating having lived for a century.

Not everyone lives that long.

Birthdays are a big deal for some people.

They help mark the passing of time.

Each new decade that you enter usually comes with its share of highs and lows.

Age is one of the ways that decades get recognized and celebrated.

Another big celebration that is often marked by the decade is a marriage anniversary or a friendship anniversary.

While you likely celebrate your wedding anniversary every year, there are a few times in your life when it’s more special.

An example is when you’re celebrating a new decade beginning.

Anniversary gifts can trace their roots back to Roman times.

Husbands would give their wives special gifts when they reached 25 years of marriage and 50 years of marriage.

In modern times, couples give one another certain gifts for each anniversary.

For a first anniversary, the suggested gift is “paper.”

For the “paper” year, a traditional gift is a clock or a special card.

In terms of decades, each decade celebrated together makes the anniversary more important and special.

After all, in a world where divorce rates are high, having a lasting marriage is something special.

The 10th anniversary is the year of tin.

It’s common for spouses to get one another gifts that include a diamond.

That’s why some people also call it a diamond anniversary, although that isn’t technically true.

That’s a name for another anniversary year.

The 20th anniversary is the “china” anniversary.

In the past, people would gift their spouses fine cutlery and china.

China isn’t as popular today as it used to be.

As such, most spouses give one another a gift that is made of platinum instead.

A 50th wedding anniversary is the “gold” anniversary.

For this milestone, spouses get one another gifts that include gold.

It’s an extra special anniversary.

The longest official anniversary is 80 years.

It is the “oak” anniversary.

It’s not uncommon for spouses to get one another something made from oak.

Wedding anniversaries or even anniversaries shared with friends are something that people tend to measure and celebrate by the decade.

People also celebrate homeownership by the decade.

It isn’t easy owning a house.

Not only does it cost a lot of money, but you have to keep it up and take care of it.

Otherwise, the house can start to deteriorate around you.

As such, homeowners take a lot of pride in how long they’ve owned a home.

This is especially true after paying off the mortgage.

Once homeowners pay off the mortgage of their home, the home is completely theirs.

They might start to celebrate each decade spent in the house.

That might mean that they renovate the house at certain intervals or simply throw a party.

People sometimes celebrate homeownership by the decade.

A final thing that people celebrate with each passing decade is their professional career.

Professionals who choose a company and stick with it may take a lot of pride in how long they’ve worked for the company.

They might celebrate how far they’ve come in the past decades.

For example, if they started as an entry-level worker and then worked up the ranks to become a manager or supervisor, then they might celebrate that.

Sometimes, certain businesses will also celebrate employees who have stayed with them for several decades.

They might give that employee a bonus, some funds for retirement, or some other reward.

Sometimes professionals will also use their multi-decade tenure in a career to describe how long they’ve been doing it.

For example, someone might say that they’ve been practicing medicine for three decades.

If you are employed, you’ll likely hear coworkers refer to their career length in decades as well as see some employees and employers celebrate milestones.

Since a decade is a period of 10 years, it helps to know what certain things you should do at the start of each decade.

This can help ensure you start the new decade strong.

Here are a few things you should do every 10 years.

Getting enough sleep is always important.

A vital part of getting good sleep is having a supportive mattress.

The average lifespan of a mattress is around 10 years.

For cheaper brands, it may be even shorter than that.

Mattresses aren’t always cheap.

Because of that, you’ll want to start saving for a new one as soon as you feel your current mattress declining.

By refreshing your mattress occasionally, you can ensure that your body continues to get the support that it needs to rest well.

As you grow older, getting the right amount of sleep is even more important.

Regularly changing your mattress every 10 years ensures you’re doing everything you can to give yourself a proper night of sleep.

In addition, mattresses can start to get moldy.

This is especially true if you don’t elevate your mattress up off the floor.

When you sweat during your sleep, it soaks into the mattress.

Getting a new mattress every 10 years ensures that you also remain healthy.

The last thing you want to do is breathe in that mold while you sleep.

Although you may not need roof repairs or replacements, it’s always a good idea to have a professional check your roof every decade.

At the very least, you’ll be aware of any potential problem areas that you may need to deal with down the line.

The same goes for the foundation of your home.

In most cases, it shouldn’t be a problem.

However, if you end up with water damage or a termite infestation, then it’s worth looking into.

A quick check of some important aspects of your home every 10 years can ensure you stay on top of your repairs.

A final thing to consider at the start of a new decade is a career change.

It’s a good time to assess your skills and the amount of pay you’ve been receiving.

If you haven’t received a pay raise in 10 years, then it may be time to speak with your boss.

Otherwise, you should consider changing your career.

Not only might this make you feel more passionate about your career, but it also might give you an opportunity to learn new things and skills.

The turn of another decade is a good time to look around and see if there’s something better out there.

A decade is a period of 10 years.

Since a lot can happen in a period of 10 years, many people tend to celebrate significant milestones whenever 10 years pass.

At the beginning of a new decade, however, there are a few things you should consider doing to start the new decade off the right way.

An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year, and may also refer to the commemoration or celebration of that event. The word was first used for Catholic feasts to commemorate saints.

Most countries celebrate national anniversaries, typically called national days. These could be the date of independence of the nation or the adoption of a new constitution or form of government. There is no definite method for determining the date of establishment of an institution, and it is generally decided within the institution by convention. The important dates in a sitting monarch's reign may also be commemorated, an event often referred to as a "jubilee".

The Latin phrase dies natalis (literally "birth day") has become a common term, adopted in many languages, especially in intellectual and institutional circles, for the anniversary of the founding ("legal or statutory birth") of an institution, such as an alma mater (college or other school). In ancient Rome, the Aquilae natalis was the "birthday of the eagle", the anniversary of the official founding of a legion.

Anniversaries of nations are usually marked by the number of years elapsed, expressed with Latin words or Roman numerals.

Latin terms for anniversaries are mostly straightforward, particularly those relating to the first thirty years (1–30), or multiples of ten years (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 etc.), or multiples of centuries or millenniums (100, 200, 300, 1000, 2000, 3000, etc.) In these instances, the name of the anniversary is generally derived from the Latin word(s) for the respective number of years. When anniversaries relate to fractions of centuries (125, 150, 175, 225 years—i.e. 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, and 2.25 centuries), the situation is not as simple.

Roman fractions were based on a duodecimal system. From 1⁄12 to 8⁄12 they were expressed as multiples of twelfths (uncia "twelfth"; the source of the English words inch and ounce) and from 9⁄12 to 11⁄12 they were expressed as multiple twelfths less than the next whole unit—i.e. a whole unit less 3⁄12, 2⁄12 or 1⁄12 respectively. There were also special terms for quarter (quadrans), half (semis), and three-quarters (dodrans). Dodrans is a Latin contraction of de-quadrans which means "a whole unit less a quarter" (de means "from"; quadrans means "quarter"). Thus for the example of 175 years, the term is a quarter century less than the next whole (bi)century or 175 = (−25 + 200).

In Latin, it seems that this rule did not apply precisely for 1+1⁄2. While secundus is Latin for "second", and bis for "twice", these terms are not used such as in sesqui-secundus. Instead sesqui (or ses) is used by itself.

Many anniversaries have special names. Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home by Emily Post, published in 1922, contained suggestions for wedding anniversary gifts for 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, and 75 years. Wedding anniversary gift suggestions for other years were added in later editions and publications; they now comprise what is referred to as the "traditional" list. Generally speaking, the longer the period, the more precious or durable the material associated with it.

There are variations according to some national traditions. There exist numerous partially overlapping, partially contradictory lists of anniversary gifts (such as wedding stones), separate from the 'traditional' names. The concepts of a person's birthday stone and zodiac stone, by contrast, are fixed for life according to the day of the week, month, or astrological sign corresponding to the recipient's birthday.

Hence, there is 10 years in a decade and 100 years in a century.