escuela secundaria
/eskwela sekundaɾja/from spelling rules
The English phrase middle school is escuela secundaria in Spanish.
escuela secundaria refers to a school containing both primary and secondary students.
Meaning: school containing both primary and secondary students (noun)
Which one should you use?
In many Spanish-speaking contexts, escuela secundaria is used broadly to cover both middle school and high school levels.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria is commonly used to mean secondary education institute. In many Latin American countries, secundaria is used as a shorthand for the entire secondary education period.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the noun escuela is feminine, the definite article must be la and the adjective must be secundaria, forming la escuela secundaria.
Did you know?
- The word escuela traces its roots back to the Greek word skholḗ, which originally meant 'leisure' or 'free time'.
- While escuela secundaria covers a broad range, some countries use bachillerato specifically for the final years of secondary education.
- In Spain, a student might tell you they are going to the instituto instead of the escuela secundaria.
Examples in context
- Esto me trae recuerdos. Solía usar esto cuando estaba en la escuela secundaria.This brings me back. I used to use this when I was in middle school.This sentence is useful for talking about things you used to do when you were in the escuela secundaria.Tatoeba #11091760 by Shishir, translation #11040218 by end
- En la escuela secundaria, tuve bajas calificaciones en español.In middle school, I had low grades in Spanish.This sentence is useful for mentioning grades you received in the escuela secundaria.Tatoeba #11463203 by carlosalberto, translation #11463195 by carlosalberto
- En mi país, los estudiantes van al colegio de educación media de los 12 a los 15 años.In my country, students go to middle school from ages 12 to 15.
- En España, los estudiantes asisten a un instituto de enseñanza secundaria durante la adolescencia.In Spain, students attend a secondary education institute during adolescence.
- Cuando termine la primaria, mi hija entrará a la preparatoria.When my daughter finishes elementary school, she will enter middle school/high school.
- Mi hermano acaba de entrar en la escuela secundaria.My brother just started middle school.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their education history.
- Javier¿En qué escuela secundaria estudiaste tú, Lucía?Which middle school did you study at, Lucía?
- LucíaEstudié en una escuela secundaria pequeña.I studied at a small middle school.
- JavierYo también fui a una pequeña.I went to a small one too.
- Lucía¡Qué coincidencia, Javier!What a coincidence, Javier!
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.
