Inklingo
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secretaria

/seh-kreh-TAH-ree-ah/

secretary

A colorful storybook illustration of a woman sitting at a tidy desk, smiling while organizing a stack of papers, representing an office assistant.

An office assistant, or secretaria, organizing files at her desk.

secretaria(noun)

fA1

secretary

?

office assistant

Also:

administrative assistant

?

general office role

📝 In Action

Mi secretaria organiza todos mis viajes de negocios.

A1

My secretary organizes all my business trips.

Hablé con la secretaria para confirmar la cita con el jefe.

A2

I spoke with the secretary to confirm the appointment with the boss.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • asistente (assistant)
  • auxiliar de oficina (office helper)

Common Collocations

  • secretaria ejecutiva – executive secretary
  • secretaria personal – personal assistant

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Articles

Since 'secretaria' is feminine, you must use the feminine article 'la' (the) or 'una' (a) before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the Person and the Place

Mistake: "Usar 'secretaria' para referirse a la oficina o el departamento."

Correction: Use 'secretaría' (with an accent) when you mean the government office or the department itself, not the person.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Male Version

If you are talking about a male administrative assistant, the word is 'secretario' (ending in -o).

A colorful storybook illustration of a woman wearing professional formal attire standing confidently behind a large wooden podium, representing a high-ranking government official.

A high-ranking government official, often referred to as a Secretaria, giving a formal address.

secretaria(noun)

fB2

Secretary

?

high-ranking government official, department head

Also:

Minister

?

in countries like Spain

📝 In Action

La Secretaria de Estado viajará a Europa la próxima semana.

B2

The Secretary of State will travel to Europe next week.

El presidente se reunió con la Secretaria de Finanzas.

C1

The president met with the Secretary of Finance.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • Secretaria de Gobernación – Secretary of the Interior (Mexico)
  • Secretaria de Educación Pública (SEP) – Secretary of Public Education

⭐ Usage Tips

Capitalization

When referring to a specific, high-ranking governmental title, it is common practice to capitalize the word (e.g., La Secretaria de Defensa).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: secretaria

Question 1 of 1

¿Cuál de las siguientes palabras se refiere a la oficina o el edificio donde trabaja una secretaria?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

secretario(secretary (male)) - noun
secretaría(secretariat / office / department) - noun
secreto(secret) - noun/adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'secretaria' y 'secretaría'?

The main difference is the accent mark! 'Secretaria' (no accent) is the person who works in the office (the assistant). 'Secretaría' (with an accent) is the name of the office, department, or administrative body itself (like the Department of Defense).

¿Se usa 'secretaria' para hombres?

No. 'Secretaria' is strictly feminine. If you are referring to a male assistant, you must use 'secretario'.