nounnounadjective

el secretario

secretary

Persona que ayuda a otra tomando notas, organizando documentos y gestionando tareas o citas en una oficina o institución.

Definition & meaning

Secretario is a masculine Spanish noun meaning secretary: a person who handles correspondence, records, appointments, or other administrative tasks for an individual, organization, or institution.

It can also refer to an official or officer with a specific administrative role, such as a member of a government or the officer responsible for an organization’s records. The exact duties depend on the institution and country.

The feminine form is secretaria [ ].

Grammar & word origin

Gender: masculine: el secretario [ ]. The feminine is la secretaria [ ].
Plural: secretarios [ ]; feminine plural: secretarias [ ].
Origin: From Latin secretarius, derived from secretum (“secret”). Historically, the word referred to someone entrusted with confidential information.

Synonyms & antonyms

Possible synonyms vary by context:

asistente [ ] (“assistant”) is broader and does not necessarily involve office administration or confidential duties.
auxiliar [ ] (“aide” or “assistant”) emphasizes a supporting role.
administrativo [ ] (“administrative worker”) describes a related type of work, but not necessarily the same position.
escribiente [ ] (“clerk” or “copyist”) is more specific to writing or record-keeping and can sound old-fashioned.

There is no direct antonym for secretario: it names a role rather than a quality or action with a natural opposite.

Common phrases & collocations

secretario personal [ ] — personal secretary
secretario general [ ] — secretary-general or general secretary
secretario de Estado [ ] — secretary of state; the precise office varies by country
secretario de una organización [ ] — secretary of an organization