carrera: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal, Technical (in sports contexts)
Quick answer
What does “carrera” mean?
A competitive race, typically involving vehicles or athletes, or a period of professional activity in a specific field.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A competitive race, typically involving vehicles or athletes, or a period of professional activity in a specific field.
A sustained period of professional work or activity in a particular occupation, field, or industry; a career. Also refers to a specific type of competitive running event in athletics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical and niche in both varieties. It is most recognized in the context of international motorsport or as a proper noun in brand names.
Connotations
Connotes excitement, speed, and international (often Latin American or European) prestige, especially in motorsport contexts.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language. Slightly higher recognition in the US due to the popularity of the Porsche Carrera model and greater exposure to Latin American culture.
Grammar
How to Use “carrera” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] Carrerathe [Adjective] carrerato compete in a carreraVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carrera” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Carrera model is highly sought after.
- He owns a classic Carrera Porsche.
American English
- She drove the new Carrera S on the track.
- The Carrera edition comes with special features.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing for luxury automotive brands.
Academic
Rare. Could appear in historical or cultural studies of motorsport.
Everyday
Very rare. Recognized primarily by car enthusiasts.
Technical
Used in motorsport journalism and automotive industry terminology to refer to specific models or race series.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “carrera”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “carrera”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carrera”
- Using 'carrera' as a general term for any race (use 'race').
- Pronouncing it with a hard 'c' (/kærɛrə/).
- Using it to mean 'career' in standard English writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword used in very specific contexts, primarily related to motorsport and as a brand name. It is not a common general vocabulary word in English.
No, this is a common error for Spanish speakers. In English, 'career' is the correct word. Using 'carrera' in this sense will sound like a mistake or a very deliberate stylistic choice (e.g., in poetry).
In British English, it is typically /kəˈreərə/. In American English, it is more commonly /kəˈrɛrə/. The double 'r' is not trilled as in Spanish.
Its most frequent use is as part of the proper noun 'Porsche Carrera', referring to a high-performance model line of Porsche sports cars.
A competitive race, typically involving vehicles or athletes, or a period of professional activity in a specific field.
Carrera is usually formal, technical (in sports contexts) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common English usage.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a fast CAR RACing on an ERRAnd – it's on a 'Carrera'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A RACE / A PROFESSIONAL LIFE IS A JOURNEY (when used in the rare 'career' sense).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'carrera' MOST likely to be used correctly in English?