scuola pubblica
The English phrase 'public school' is translated into Italian as scuola pubblica.
scuola pubblica is a noun used to refer to a school that is publicly administered.
Meaning: publicly administered school (noun)
Which one should you use?
The term scuola pubblica is used to contrast with scuola privata, which means 'private school'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of scuola pubblica is scuole pubbliche, where both the noun and the adjective change to the feminine plural.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using scuola pubblica to mean an elite, expensive private school, as it does in British English. In Italian, the term strictly refers to state-funded institutions.
Did you know?
- The word scuola is used in Italian to describe a 'school of thought' or a specific artistic style, such as scuola veneziana, which has nothing to do with buildings or students.
- While scuola pubblica is the standard term, some historical Italian institutions use the term ateneo to describe a public university, which comes from the Greek word for 'Athena'.
- While scuola pubblica refers to the system, Italian students often refer to their specific state school simply as la scuola, implying the public one by default.
Examples in context
- Andai alla scuola pubblica.I went to public school.This sentence is useful for describing where you went to school using scuola pubblica.Tatoeba #4567543 by Guybrush88, translation #4499021 by CK
- Amavamo la scuola pubblica.We loved public school.This sentence is useful for expressing an affection for scuola pubblica.Tatoeba #13125922 by Guybrush88, translation #12876050 by Ussis
- Questa è una scuola pubblica.This is a public school.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific institution as a scuola pubblica.Tatoeba #5760299 by Guybrush88, translation #4494332 by CK
- I miei figli vanno alla scuola pubblica.My children go to public school.
- A Napoli, la mia città, frequentavo una scuola statale.In Naples, my hometown, I attended a public school.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Francesco are discussing school options for their children.
- SofiaFrancesco, dobbiamo scegliere una scuola per i bambini.Francesco, we need to choose a school for the children.
- FrancescoPreferisci una scuola privata o una scuola pubblica?Do you prefer a private school or a public school?
- SofiaPenso che la scuola pubblica sia la scelta migliore.I think that the public school is the best choice.
- FrancescoHai ragione, Sofia, la scuola pubblica è molto buona.You are right, Sofia, the public school is very good.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
