mi escuela se llama
/mi eskwela se ʝama/from spelling rules
The English phrase "my school is called" is translated into Spanish as mi escuela se llama.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "my school calls itself" because se llama is the reflexive form of the verb llamar (to call).
Which one should you use?
While mi escuela se llama is used to state the name of the school, the phrase mi escuela es is used to describe its characteristics, such as mi escuela es grande (my school is big).
Did you know?
- The word escuela shares an ancient root with the Greek word skholḗ, which originally meant 'leisure' or 'free time'.
- While mi escuela se llama is standard, some Spanish speakers may use the word colegio instead of escuela depending on whether the institution is primary or secondary.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is more common to say estudio en… (I study at…) than to state what the school is called.
Examples in context
- Mi escuela se llama Saint Mary's Academy.My school is called Saint Mary's Academy.
- Mi escuela se llama San José.My school is called San José.
- Mi escuela se llama Escuela Central.My school is called Escuela Central.
Example conversation
Two students are meeting for the first time.
- Lucía¿Cómo se llama tu escuela, Javier?What is your school called, Javier?
- JavierMi escuela se llama Norte.My school is called Norte.
- LucíaEs una escuela muy grande.It is a very big school.
- JavierSí, hay muchos estudiantes.Yes, there are many students.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escuela, llama, mi, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
