escuela secundaria
/eskwela sekundaɾja/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for junior high is escuela secundaria.
This phrase refers to a school for students between elementary school and high school.
Which one should you use?
While escuela secundaria specifically refers to the level of schooling, in many Spanish-speaking contexts, it can encompass both junior high and high school levels depending on the country's educational structure.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, including Mexico, the term secundaria is used alone to refer to junior high school.
Did you know?
- The word escuela comes from the Greek word skholḗ, which originally meant 'spare time' or 'leisure'. It evolved to describe the knowledge gained during that free time and eventually the place where that learning happened.
- While secundaria refers to the school level, students in Mexico often refer to their time in junior high as la secu in casual conversation.
- In some regions, the phrase colegio is used interchangeably with escuela secundaria, but in others, colegio specifically implies a private institution rather than a public one.
Examples in context
- Tom era más bajo que yo en la escuela secundaria, pero ahora es más alto que yo.Tom was shorter than me in junior high school, but now he's taller than me.This sentence is useful for describing someone's physical height during their time in the escuela secundaria.Tatoeba #10854966 by UristMcNani, translation #10754491 by CK
- En mi país, "junior high" se conoce como "escuela secundaria".In my country, "junior high" is known as "escuela secundaria".
- Voy a ingresar al colegio secundario el próximo año.I will be entering junior high next year.
- En la escuela media, los estudiantes cursan tres años antes de pasar a la preparatoria.In junior high, students study for three years before moving on to high school.
- Mi hermano estudia en la escuela secundaria.My brother studies in junior high.
- La escuela secundaria está cerca de mi casa.The junior high is near my house.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about their childhood.
- LucíaTú eras muy inteligente en la escuela secundaria, Javier.You were very intelligent in junior high, Javier.
- JavierGracias, Lucía, pero yo odiaba la historia.Thanks, Lucía, but I hated history.
- Lucía¿Cuál era tu materia favorita entonces?What was your favorite subject then?
- JavierDefinitivamente prefería las clases de arte.I definitely preferred art classes.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escuela, secundaria, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
