carreras
“carreras” means “races” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
races, running events
Also: bouts
📝 In Action
Fuimos al hipódromo a ver las carreras de caballos.
A2We went to the racetrack to watch the horse races.
Las carreras de cien metros son mi evento favorito de atletismo.
B1The hundred-meter races are my favorite track and field event.
studies, degrees
Also: majors
📝 In Action
¿Qué carreras universitarias te interesan más?
B1Which university studies (degrees/majors) interest you the most?
Mis hijos están en la universidad y estudian dos carreras diferentes.
B2My children are in university and are studying two different degrees.
runs, ladders
📝 In Action
¡Qué mala suerte! Tengo dos carreras en las medias nuevas.
C1What bad luck! I have two runs in my new tights.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: carreras
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'carreras' in the sense of 'academic studies'?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Spanish word 'carrera,' which itself comes from a Latin word meaning 'road for carts' (*carrāria*), related to the word for 'cart' (*carrus*). The core idea is always a 'path' or 'track,' which applies equally to a race track, a path in life (career), and a course of study.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'carreras' related to the verb 'correr'?
Yes, 'carreras' (races) is closely related to the verb 'correr' (to run). Both words share the same root idea of moving quickly along a path.
How do I know if 'carreras' means 'races' or 'studies'?
Context is key! If the sentence mentions speed, horses, cars, or athletics, it means 'races.' If it mentions 'universidad' (university), 'estudiar' (to study), or 'título' (degree), it means 'academic studies' or 'majors.'