cuál es tu carrera
/kwal es tu kareɾa/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'what your major is' is translated as cuál es tu carrera.
This phrase is used to ask about the specific subject or field of study a person is specializing in at a college or university. To say you are majoring in something, you can use the phrase estudiar una carrera. For example, you can say Estoy estudiando para ser… to express what you are studying or training to become. When responding formally to state your major, you can use Mi especialidad es… Common subjects include Negocios (Business), Economía (Economics), Finanzas (Finance), Mercadotecnia (Marketing), Negocios Internacionales (International Business), Biología (Biology), Química (Chemistry), Ingeniería Informática (Computer Science), Ingeniería (Engineering), Física (Physics), Literatura (Literature), Filosofía (Philosophy), Historia (History), Arte (Art) and Música (Music).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cuál es tu carrera literally translates to 'which is your career', because the word carrera is used to denote a professional path or field of study.
Which one should you use?
In a university context, carrera specifically refers to one's major or degree program, though it can also mean 'career' in a professional sense.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
When speaking to a professor, an elder or someone you do not know well, you should use the formal version cuál es su carrera.
Did you know?
- The word carrera also means 'race' in Spanish, as in a running race or a car race.
- The word carrera shares the same origin as the English word 'career', stemming from the Latin word for a 'chariot' or 'racing track'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word carrera refers to the entire duration of the degree program, not just the field of study.
Examples in context
- Mi especialidad es economía.My major is economics.
- Estoy estudiando derecho.I'm studying law.
- Mi carrera es la medicina.My major is medicine.
- No sé cuál es tu carrera.I don't know what your major is.
- Dime cuál es tu carrera.Tell me what your major is.
- ¿Me puedes decir cuál es tu carrera?Can you tell me what your major is?
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are meeting for the first time at a university cafe.
- JavierHola, ¿cuál es tu carrera?Hi, what is your major?
- ElenaEstudio medicina, ¿y la tuya?I study medicine, and yours?
- JavierMi carrera es arquitectura.My major is architecture.
- Elena¡Qué interesante!How interesting!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carrera, cuál, es, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
