secretario
“secretario” means “secretary” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
secretary
Also: administrative assistant
📝 In Action
El secretario organizó todos los documentos para la reunión de hoy.
A2The secretary organized all the documents for today's meeting.
Necesitamos hablar con el secretario de la facultad sobre las notas.
B1We need to speak with the department secretary about the grades.
minister
Also: Secretary (of State), Secretary General
📝 In Action
El Secretario de Hacienda presentó el nuevo presupuesto nacional.
B2The Minister of Finance presented the new national budget.
Viajó a Washington para reunirse con el Secretario de Estado.
C1He traveled to Washington to meet with the Secretary of State.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "secretario" in Spanish:
administrative assistant→minister→secretary→secretary general→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: secretario
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'secretario' to refer to a high-ranking government official?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Late Latin term *secretarius*, which meant 'one entrusted with secrets.' This makes sense, as the job of a secretary historically involved handling confidential information.
First recorded: 14th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I refer to a female secretary?
Since 'secretario' refers to a male person, you must use the feminine form, 'la secretaria,' to refer to a woman in that role. They are treated as two different words.
Is 'secretario' the same as 'secreto'?
No. 'Secretario' is the person who works in an office or government role. 'Secreto' is the piece of hidden information itself. They are related in meaning but serve different functions in a sentence.