tercer año
/teɾθeɾ aɲo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the English phrase "junior year" is expressed as tercer año.
The phrase refers to the third year of a four-year program in high school or college.
Which one should you use?
You may see the formal phrase Tercer año de la carrera used to specifically mean the third year of a degree or Penúltimo año de la educación secundaria to mean the second-to-last year of secondary education.
How do you pronounce it?
/teɾθeɾ aɲo/
Did you know?
- Because the Spanish word año sounds similar to a vulgar term for the anatomy of the rear, learners are often cautioned that the pronunciation of the ñ is crucial to avoid an embarrassing mistake.
- In some Latin American universities, a student in their tercer año is called a tercerista.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the concept of a 'junior year' does not exist as a distinct social identity with its own traditions, unlike the specific cultural rites of passage associated with being a 'junior' in the US.
Examples in context
- Estoy en mi tercer año de la carreraI am in my junior year of study
- Estoy en mi penúltimo año de la educación secundariaI am in my junior year of high school
- Estoy en mi tercer año de medicinaI'm in my third year of medical school
- Estoy en mi tercer año de la universidad.I am in my junior year of college.
- El tercer año es el más difícil.The junior year is the hardest.
- Ella comenzó su tercer año de secundaria.She started her junior year of high school.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are talking about their studies at a cafe.
- Javier¿En qué curso estás, Lucía?What year are you in, Lucía?
- LucíaEstoy en mi tercer año de carrera.I am in my junior year of my degree.
- Javier¡Qué bien! Yo ya terminé mi tercer año.That's great! I already finished my junior year.
- LucíaEntonces ya eres un estudiante de último año.Then you are already a senior.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
