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cadete

ka-DEH-teh/kaˈðete/

cadet

Also: trainee
Nounm or fA2
A young student in a crisp, formal military uniform standing at attention.

📝 In Action

El cadete saludó al capitán con respeto.

A2

The cadet saluted the captain with respect.

Ella es la mejor cadete de su promoción en la academia de policía.

B1

She is the best cadet in her class at the police academy.

Los cadetes deben vivir en el cuartel durante el primer año.

B2

The cadets must live in the barracks during the first year.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • academia de cadetes – cadet academy
  • cuerpo de cadetes – cadet corps

junior / U-16 player

Nounm or fB1
A teenager in a soccer jersey kicking a ball on a green field.

📝 In Action

Mi primo juega en el equipo cadete del Real Madrid.

B1

My cousin plays for Real Madrid's junior (U-16) team.

El torneo cadete se celebrará este fin de semana.

B2

The junior tournament will be held this weekend.

Es su último año como cadete antes de pasar a juvenil.

C1

It is his last year as a junior before moving up to the youth category.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • categoría cadete – junior category
  • equipo cadete – junior team

messenger / office runner

Also: delivery person
Nounm or fB2
Argentina, Uruguay, Chile
A young worker in an office carrying a stack of envelopes and a small package.

📝 In Action

Mandamos al cadete a la oficina de correos.

B2

We sent the office runner to the post office.

Empezó trabajando como cadete y ahora es el gerente.

C1

He started working as a messenger and now he is the manager.

El cadete traerá los documentos firmados esta tarde.

B2

The delivery person will bring the signed documents this afternoon.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • trabajar de cadete – to work as an office runner
  • servicio de cadetería – messenger service

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cadete" in Spanish:

cadet→delivery person→trainee→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cadete

Question 1 of 3

If someone is a 'cadete' in an office in Argentina, what do they do?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cadetería(messenger service / group of cadets) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the French word 'cadet', which originally meant 'younger son' or 'little head.' Historically, the younger sons of noble families often joined the military because the eldest son inherited the estate.

First recorded: 17th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: cadetEnglish: cadet

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'cadete' always mean military?

No. While its most common global meaning is a military student, in Spain it refers to a specific sports age group, and in parts of South America, it refers to an office messenger.

Is 'cadete' a disrespectful term for a messenger?

No, it is a standard, neutral job title in countries like Argentina and Uruguay, though it usually implies a junior or entry-level position.

What is the female version of 'cadete'?

It is 'la cadete'. The word itself does not change to 'cadeta'.