secretario
/se-kreh-TAH-ryo/
secretary
A depiction of a secretario (secretary) managing office tasks and administrative duties.
secretario(noun)
secretary
?office/administrative role
administrative assistant
?general office support
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Change
Since 'secretario' is a person, it changes gender. If the person is a woman, you must say 'la secretaria' (which is a separate entry).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Roles
Mistake: "Using 'secretario' to mean 'a secret' (el secreto)."
Correction: Remember 'secretario' is the person who keeps the records; 'secreto' is the hidden information itself.
⭐ Usage Tips
Modern Office Titles
In some countries, 'asistente administrativo' is becoming more common than 'secretario' for general office staff.
In some Spanish-speaking countries, secretario refers to a high-ranking government official or minister.
secretario(noun)
minister
?High-ranking government official (common in Latin America/Spain)
Secretary (of State)
?US cabinet position
,Secretary General
?leader of a large organization or party
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Titles
When referring to a specific, high-level government position (like 'Secretario de Defensa'), it is often capitalized in Spanish, just like in English.
⭐ Usage Tips
Translation Note
Depending on the country, 'secretario' often translates to 'minister' in parliamentary systems (like the UK or Spain) but 'secretary' in systems like the US.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: secretario
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'secretario' to refer to a high-ranking government official?
📚 More Resources
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.