Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Career in Spanish: Carrera
Carrera · noun · kah-RREH-rah
Carrera is the primary Spanish word for career, encompassing one's professional path, university degree program, or long-term occupation.
kah-RREH-rah
Quiero construir una carrera en medicina.
I want to build a career in medicine.
Career in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for career, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| carrera | career | kah-RREH-rah | Default, widely understood |
| profesión | career | emphasizes the profession or occupation | |
| trayectoria profesional | career | career path / trajectory |
How Native Speakers Use Carrera
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Professional goal
Mi carrera como ingeniero comenzó hace diez años.
My career as an engineer started ten years ago.
Reflecting on professional experience.
University context
Estudio la carrera de derecho en la universidad.
I'm studying a law degree at university.
Describing one's university studies, where carrera means degree program.
Career change
Estoy pensando en cambiar de carrera para dedicarme a la enseñanza.
I'm thinking about changing careers to dedicate myself to teaching.
Discussing a major professional transition.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Carrera
Confusing carrera with race
Incorrect: Tengo una carrera mañana en el estadio. (meaning career)
Correct: Tengo una carrera profesional consolidada.
Carrera also means race (as in a running race); context determines the meaning, so adding profesional clarifies when the topic is career.
Using carrera for a short-term job
Incorrect: Mi carrera como mesero duró dos semanas.
Correct: Mi trabajo como mesero duró dos semanas.
Carrera implies a long-term professional path, not a temporary job; trabajo or empleo is more appropriate for short-term positions.
Lock in Career Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Carrera used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using carrera in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Quiero construir una carrera en medicina. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Career in Spanish
- How do you say 'career' in Spanish?
- The most common translation is carrera, which covers both a professional career and a university degree program throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
- Does carrera only mean career?
- Carrera is a versatile word that can mean career, race (running or driving), or university degree depending on context — professional carrera is distinguished by phrases like carrera profesional.
- How do you say 'career path' in Spanish?
- The phrase trayectoria profesional is the most precise translation for career path, emphasizing the progression and direction of one's professional life over time.