Secretaría

Secretaría is a Spanish term with multiple related meanings centered on administrative and organizational functions. It can refer to the office or department within an organization that handles administrative tasks, the staff that works in that office, and the position of secretary itself. The word is widely used across Spanish-speaking countries to denote both the function and the people who perform it.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from the Latin secretarius, meaning a keeper of confidences or confidential matters. Over time, secretaría came to designate not only the role of a secretary but also the organizational unit responsible for correspondence, record-keeping, scheduling, and other administrative duties. In many contexts, secretaría is the equivalent of the English “secretariat” or “secretariate.”

Government and organizational use: In government, secretaría commonly names ministries or secretariats, such as secretaría de Educación or secretaría de Seguridad, which are administrative bodies headed by a secretary (secretario or secretaria). In international or larger organizational contexts, the term may refer to the central administrative office that coordinates activities and supports leadership. The body of staff performing these tasks is often called the secretariado or the secretaries.

Functions and roles: In a corporate or institutional setting, the secretaría handles reception, correspondence, scheduling, document management, archiving, and logistical support for executives and departments. It may also manage confidential information, regulatory compliance records, and internal communications, acting as a central hub for administrative workflow.

See also: secretario/a; secretariado; secretariato.