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"Major" is a noun which is often translated as "la especialidad", and "minor" is an adjective which is often translated as "menor". Learn more about the difference between "major" and "minor" below.
major(
mey
-
juhr
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la especialidad (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We have to declare a major next year.El año que viene tenemos que elegir una especialidad.
b. la carrera (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
What is your major at the university?¿Qué carrera estudias en la universidad?
2. (military)
a. el comandante (M), la comandante (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A major ranks above a captain but below a lieutenant colonel.Un comandante está por encima de un capitán, pero por debajo de un teniente coronel.
b. el mayor (M) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
The order came from a major of the US army.La orden procedía de un mayor del ejército norteamericano.
3. (music)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Arnold is a Physics major.Arnold estudia física como asignatura principal.
What can a Language major do when they graduate?¿A qué se pueden dedicar las personas que estudian lenguas cuando se gradúan?
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. importante
Corruption is still a major obstacle for the country's development.La corrupción sigue siendo un obstáculo importante para el desarrollo del país.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. especializarse
I majored in psychology in college.En la universidad me especialicé en psicología.
minor(
may
-
nuhr
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (small)
b. leve (injury, illness)
We were in an accident but we only got minor injuries.Tuvimos un accidente pero solo sufrimos heridas leves.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
4. (legal)
a. el menor (M), la menor (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
If he's a minor, his parents need to sign the consent form.Si es un menor, sus padres tienen que firmar el consentimiento.
a. la asignatura secundaria (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I majored in linguistics. My minor was in translation.Me especialicé en lingüística y mi asignatura secundaria fue traducción.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. estudiar como asignatura secundaria
My best friend minored in literature.Mi mejor amiga estudió literatura como asignatura secundaria.
minors
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
7. (sports)
a. las ligas menores (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He plays in the minors for now.Juega en las ligas menores por ahora.
