Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| escuela | /esˈkwela/ | feminine |
| colegio | /koˈlexjo/ | masculine |
The word refers to an institution dedicated to teaching and learning. Related verbs include educar and escolarizar, which mean to educate, teach or train.
Which one should you use?
While escuela is the most generic term for any school and can be used for any level of education from primary to specialized training, colegio is frequently used to refer to private schools or specific K-12 educational institutions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Venezuela, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, el liceo is used to refer to an educational institution, typically for secondary education. In many Spanish-speaking countries, particularly Spain, instituto is the common term for a high school or secondary school.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective form escolar is used to describe things related to school, such as uniforme escolar (school uniform).
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈkwela/
Did you know?
- The word escuela shares an unexpected origin with the concept of 'leisure'. It comes from the Ancient Greek word 'skholē', which meant 'spare time' or 'free time'.
- In Spanish, the word colegio shares a root with the English word 'college' but is used most commonly for primary and secondary education.
- In some contexts, colegio can refer to a professional association or a guild, such as a colegio de abogados for a 'bar association'.
Examples in context
- Voy a la escuela.I am going to school.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are currently going to school using escuela.Tatoeba #473450 by Shishir, translation #396887 by kamile
- Iré a la escuela.I'll go to school.This sentence is useful for expressing a future intent to go to school using escuela.Tatoeba #3706147 by cueyayotl, translation #2905390 by CK
- Fui a la escuela.I went to school.This sentence is useful for expressing that you went to school in the past using escuela.Tatoeba #3797017 by Seael, translation #3797008 by CM
- ¿Qué tal hoy en el cole?How was school today?
- ¿Vamos al cine después del instituto?Shall we go to the movies after school?
- ¿Vamos al parque después del cole?Do you want to go to the park after school?
- 1332 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking about where their children study.
- Alejandro¿Dónde está la escuela de tu hijo?Where is your son's school?
- SofíaLa escuela está cerca de aquí.The school is near here.
- AlejandroEs una escuela muy grande.It is a very large school.
- SofíaSí, a él le gusta mucho.Yes, he likes it a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “school” translations and entries escuela, colegio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries colegio, escuela, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
