secretória

Secretária is a Portuguese noun with several related meanings. Primarily it denotes a woman who provides administrative support in an office, handling tasks such as scheduling, correspondence, filing, and reception. In Brazilian Portuguese, common specialized forms include secretária executiva (executive secretary) and secretária escolar (school secretary). The role typically requires strong communication skills, computer literacy, organization, and attention to detail, with training ranging from secretarial courses to higher education, depending on the position. The feminine gender of the profession contrasts with secretário, the masculine form.

The term also refers to a piece of furniture known as a secretary or secretary desk, which combines a writing surface that folds down with storage compartments and drawers. This type of desk is used for writing and organizing papers and can vary from compact designs to taller, more ornate pieces. It is commonly found in homes, offices, and historic interiors and is often associated with traditional or antique interiors.

In public administration and organizational contexts, secretária (often written as secretaria) can denote a department, secretariat, or office within a government or large institution, such as a state or municipal secretariat. The head of such an office is typically titled secretary or minister, depending on the jurisdiction. Etymologically, secretária derives from Latin secretarius, via Portuguese, with related terms used across Romance languages.

Overall, secretária encompasses a professional role, a furniture item, and an organizational unit, all linked by the idea of managing information, correspondence, and administrative tasks.