secundaria

/seh-koon-DAH-reeah/

secondary

A visual comparison showing a large, bright red apple placed prominently in the center, and a much smaller, pale green grape positioned off to the side, illustrating the concept of secondary importance.

As an adjective, secundaria means secondary, or less important. Here, the small grape plays a secondary role to the large apple.

secundaria(adjective)

fB1

secondary

less important or non-primary

minor

small or insignificant

Also:

subordinate

ranking below something else

📝 In Action

La causa principal de la caída fue la lluvia, y la mala visibilidad fue una razón secundaria.

The main cause of the fall was the rain, and poor visibility was a secondary reason.

Esta es una preocupación secundaria; el problema más grande es el presupuesto.

This is a minor concern; the bigger problem is the budget.

Word Connections

Synonyms

adicional (additional)
menor (minor)

Antonyms

principal (main)
primaria (primary)

Common Collocations

cuestión secundaria – secondary issue

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Since 'secundaria' ends in '-a', it is used to describe feminine nouns (like 'razón' or 'cuestión'). If you were describing a masculine noun (like 'objetivo'), you would use 'secundario'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Emphasis

Use 'secundaria' to politely downplay the importance of an issue, suggesting that something else demands immediate attention.

A colorful storybook illustration depicting a traditional two-story brick school building with tall windows and a prominent flagpole. Three teenagers carrying backpacks are walking toward the entrance.

As a noun, secundaria translates to secondary school, referring to the educational stage following primary school.

secundaria(noun)

fA2

secondary school

UK education stage

high school

US education stage

Also:

middle school

In some Latin American countries, referring to the initial years.

📝 In Action

¿En qué año de la secundaria estás?

What year of high school are you in?

Terminé la secundaria el año pasado y ahora voy a la universidad.

I finished secondary school last year and now I'm going to university.

Mi hermana es profesora de matemáticas en una secundaria pública.

My sister is a math teacher at a public high school.

Word Connections

Synonyms

preparatoria (high school (Mexico))
instituto (high school (Spain))

Common Collocations

escuela secundaria – secondary school (full phrase)

💡 Grammar Points

Use with Articles

Since 'secundaria' is a feminine noun, you will almost always use the feminine article 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la secundaria' (the high school).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Levels

Mistake: "Using 'colegio' when you mean 'secundaria'."

Correction: In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'colegio' often means 'private school' or 'primary/elementary school,' while 'secundaria' refers specifically to the high school level.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Short Form

It is extremely common to drop the word 'escuela' and just say 'la secundaria' when talking about high school.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: secundaria

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'secundaria' as a noun?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

secundario(secondary (masculine adjective)) - adjective

secundar(to second (an idea), to back up) - verb

secundariamente(secondarily) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'secundaria' the same as 'colegio'?

Not usually. 'Secundaria' specifically refers to the high school or middle school years (typically ages 12-18, depending on the country). 'Colegio' is a more general term that often means 'private school' or sometimes includes the primary (elementary) school level.

How do I use the adjective form 'secundaria' correctly?

Use 'secundaria' when describing any feminine noun that is not the main focus or priority, such as 'una meta secundaria' (a secondary goal) or 'una calle secundaria' (a side street).