What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from clase (class) and de historia (of history).
Which one should you use?
While clase de historia is the standard way to say history class, other terms exist depending on the context: Asignatura de historia and Curso de historia are formal ways to refer to the subject or a specific course and Lección de historia is a formal term for a specific lesson within a course. Informally, you may simply say Historia to refer to the class.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, it is common to refer to history class as materia de historia.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, you change clase to clases while keeping de historia the same, resulting in clases de historia.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying historia clase. English speakers often mistakenly place the subject before the noun, but in Spanish, you must use de to connect the subject to the noun, as in clase de historia.
Did you know?
- The word historia is used for both 'history' as an academic subject and 'story' as a narrative. A student might tell a historia about what happened in their clase de historia.
- The Spanish word clase comes from the Latin classis, which originally referred to a fleet of ships or a division of the Roman people based on wealth.
- While English uses 'history' for the subject, Spanish uses historia for the field of study and estoria in very specific archaic or poetic contexts to denote a legend.
Examples in context
- Se durmió en clase de historia.He dozed off in history class.This sentence is useful for describing someone falling asleep in a history class.Tatoeba #545187 by Shishir, translation #304789 by CK
- La clase de historia comienza a las nueve.The history class starts at nine.This sentence is useful for stating the starting time of a history class.Tatoeba #346023 by tatoerique, translation #326120 by Eldad
- ¿Tienes clase de historia hoy?Do you have history class today?
- Estoy estudiando para la clase de historiaI am studying for history class
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the school hallway.
- AlejandroLucía, ¿tienes el libro para la clase de historia?Lucía, do you have the book for history class?
- LucíaNo, Alejandro, olvidé mi libro en casa.No, Alejandro, I forgot my book at home.
- AlejandroPodemos compartir el mío durante la clase de historia.We can share mine during history class.
- Lucía¡Muchas gracias por tu ayuda!Thank you very much for your help!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clase, de, historia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
