clase
/ˈklase/feminine
The English word 'class' is translated into Spanish as clase.
clase refers to a group, collection, category or set sharing characteristics or attributes. It is also the standard word used for a school lesson.
Meaning: group, collection, category or set sharing characteristics or attributes (noun)
Which one should you use?
While clase can mean a category or type of thing, it is also the standard word for a school lesson, whereas aula refers specifically to the physical classroom room.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, la cursada is sometimes used instead of clase or materia.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun clase is feminine and requires feminine articles like 'la' or 'una'. When referring to a school lesson or a lecture, clase is used without an article in common phrases like 'ir a clase'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈklase/
Did you know?
- The Latin root of clase originally referred to a calling-out or a summoning, particularly for the registration of ships for naval service.
- The phrase dar clase literally means 'to give class', which is the standard way to say 'to teach a lesson' in Spanish.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you want to describe someone's high social standing or elegance, you might say they have 'clase', much like the English expression 'of high class'.
Examples in context
- Rajá de mi clase.Get out of my class.The first example shows how to use clase to tell someone to leave your class.Tatoeba #5124665 by ecorralest101, translation #5124691 by honestlang
- Voy a ir a clase.I'm going to class.The second example demonstrates the common phrase 'Voy a clase'.Tatoeba #9998949 by Shishir, translation #10054806 by DJ_Saidez
- Él faltó a clase.He was absent from class.The third example uses clase to describe being absent from class.Tatoeba #10109395 by Eremon, translation #1078098 by keira_n
- Estoy en la clase de matemáticas.I am in the math class.
- Hoy tuvimos una lección de historia muy interesante.Today we had a very interesting history class.
- Mi asignatura favorita es la biología.My favorite class is biology.
- Tengo dos materias en la mañana.I have two classes in the morning.
- ¿A qué hora empieza la cátedra de historia?At what time does the history class start?
- Tengo dos cursadas por la tarde.I have two classes in the afternoon.
- 436 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are discussing a collection of art in a museum.
- Lucía¿Qué te parece esta clase de pintura?What do you think of this class of painting?
- AlejandroEs muy impresionante, Lucía.It is very impressive, Lucía.
- LucíaA mí también me parece fascinante.It seems fascinating to me too.
- AlejandroEs una clase de arte muy especial.It is a very special class of art.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “class” translations and entries clase, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clase, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
