carrera
/kah-RREH-rrah/
race
The most common meaning of carrera is 'race,' referring to a competition of speed.
📝 In Action
Mi hermano ganó la carrera de 100 metros.
A2My brother won the 100-meter race.
La carrera de Fórmula 1 fue muy emocionante.
B1The Formula 1 race was very exciting.
Vamos a echar una carrera hasta la esquina.
B1Let's have a race to the corner.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Any Speed Competition
You can use 'carrera' for almost any kind of race, whether it's people running, cars, horses, or even a 'carrera de sacos' (sack race).
Carrera also means 'career' or the 'major' studied at a university.
📝 In Action
¿Qué carrera estudias en la universidad?
B1What major are you studying at university?
Ella tiene una carrera exitosa como abogada.
B1She has a successful career as a lawyer.
Después de diez años, decidí cambiar de carrera.
B2After ten years, I decided to change careers.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Carrera' and 'Trabajo'
Mistake: "Mi carrera es en un banco. (My career is in a bank.)"
Correction: Mi trabajo es en un banco. (My job is in a bank.) 'Carrera' refers to your whole profession or field (like 'banking'), while 'trabajo' refers to your specific job or place of work.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Your Major
The most natural way to ask someone what they're studying is '¿Qué carrera estudias?'. 'Carrera' here means your degree program or major, like medicine, engineering, or art.
'Career' in English vs. Spanish
While 'carrera' can mean 'career', it often refers to the profession itself or the university degree that gets you there. To talk about your entire life's work journey, the phrase 'carrera profesional' is often a better fit.
Informally, carrera can refer to a 'run' (or ladder) in stockings or tights.
📝 In Action
¡Qué mala suerte! Se me hizo una carrera en las medias nuevas.
B2What bad luck! I got a run in my new stockings.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Specific Kind of Line
Think of this meaning like a tiny 'race' or line that 'runs' down the fabric. It's a very specific use, but you'll sound very natural if you use it correctly.
In certain countries, carrera is used as a term for a major city street or 'avenue'.
📝 In Action
La dirección es Carrera 15 con Calle 72.
C1The address is 15th Avenue at 72nd Street.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: carrera
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'carrera' to talk about a university major?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'carrera', 'profesión', and 'trabajo'?
Great question! Think of it like this: 'Carrera' is your field of study or your entire professional path (e.g., Medicine, Law). 'Profesión' is the title you hold because of that study (e.g., doctor, lawyer). 'Trabajo' is your specific job right now (e.g., a doctor at City Hospital).
Why does 'carrera' mean so many different things?
It all goes back to the Latin word for 'cart path'. All the meanings relate to a path or a course: a race course, the course of your life (your career), a line running down your tights, or a street that acts as a path through the city.