carrera
“carrera” means “race” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
race
Also: run
📝 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.
career, major / degree
📝 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.
run
Also: ladder
📝 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.
avenue
📝 In Action
La dirección es Carrera 15 con Calle 72.
C1The address is 15th Avenue at 72nd Street.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: carrera
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'carrera' to talk about a university major?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Vulgar Latin word '*carria*', which meant 'a path for carts'. This came from the Latin word 'carrus', meaning 'cart' or 'wagon'. You can see how the idea of a 'path' or 'course' connects all its meanings: the course of a race, the course of your professional life, and a path-like street.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.