tu carrera universitaria
/tu kareɾa unibeɾsitaɾja/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'your college major' is translated into Spanish as tu carrera universitaria.
This phrase refers to the specific subject or field of study a student chooses to specialize in while earning a university degree. For example, you might say your major is biología (Biology). In common conversation, the adjective universitaria is often dropped and people simply say tu carrera to refer to one's major.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, tu carrera universitaria translates to 'your university career'.
Which one should you use?
While carrera can mean a professional career or vocation, in the context of a student, it specifically refers to their field of study or major. You can naturally ask someone about their major by saying ¿Cuál es tu carrera?
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking formally, replace the informal possessive tu with the formal su to say su carrera universitaria.
How do you pronounce it?
/tu kareɾa unibeɾsitaɾja/
Did you know?
- The word carrera shares a root with the English word 'career' and comes from the Latin word for a wheeled vehicle. It originally referred to the road or track a carriage traveled on.
- Because carrera can also mean 'a race' (like a running race), a student talking about their carrera is literally talking about a 'run' or a 'course'. This dual meaning is a common source of puns in Spanish.
- While carrera is common in the Americas, students in Spain often use the word grado, which aligns their terminology with the rest of the European Union.
Examples in context
- Mi especialización es Administración de Empresas.My major is Business Administration.
- Mi especialización es Química.My major is Chemistry.
- Mi especialización es Ciencias Políticas y quiero ser abogado.My major is Political Science, and I want to become a lawyer.
- ¿Cuál es tu carrera universitaria?What is your college major?
- Me gusta mucho tu carrera universitaria.I really like your college major.
- Tu carrera universitaria es muy difícil.Your college major is very difficult.
Example conversation
Two students are talking in a university cafeteria.
- Alejandro¿Qué tal va tu carrera universitaria, Sofía?How is your college major going, Sofía?
- SofíaEs un poco estresante, Alejandro.It is a bit stressful, Alejandro.
- AlejandroLo entiendo, pero es interesante.I understand, but it is interesting.
- SofíaSí, me encanta estudiar esto.Yes, I love studying this.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carrera, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
