clase de educación física
/klase de edukaθjon fisika/from spelling rules
In Spanish, gym class is clase de educación física.
This phrase refers to a school class where students engage in physical exercise and learn about sports.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, clase de educación física means 'class of physical education'.
Which one should you use?
While clase de educación física is the full phrase, you will often see just educación física used in school schedules or official documents to refer to the subject itself.
Did you know?
- The word física in this context is a cognate of the English word 'physics'. While English speakers use 'physics' for a science course, Spanish uses it to describe anything related to the 'natural' or material world, including bodily movement.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the 'gym' part of the phrase is missing because educación física often takes place in a patio or cancha (outdoor court) rather than an indoor gymnasium.
- The Spanish word clase shares its root with the Latin classis, which originally referred to a division of the Roman navy or a social rank.
Examples in context
- El próximo miércoles tengo clase de educación física.Next Wednesday I have gym class.
- La clase de gimnasia empieza a las 10 de la mañana.Gym class starts at 10 in the morning.
- Después de almorzar tenemos gimnasio.After lunch, we have gym class.
- Tengo clase de educación física a las diez.I have gym class at ten.
- La clase de educación física es muy divertida.Gym class is very fun.
- ¿Dónde es la clase de educación física hoy?Where is gym class today?
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the school hallway.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿tienes clase de educación física ahora?Alejandro, do you have gym class now?
- AlejandroSí, María, voy al gimnasio.Yes, María, I am going to the gym.
- MaríaYo también tengo esa clase.I have that class too.
- Alejandro¡Vamos juntos entonces!Let's go together then!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clase, de, educación, física, CC BY-SA 4.0.
