Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| escuela | /esˈkwela/ | feminine |
| colegio | /koˈlexjo/ | masculine |
Both escuela and colegio refer to an educational institution. When expressing that you are 'at school' or 'going to school', Spanish requires the use of the definite article, such as la escuela, whereas English often omits it. For more formal or official contexts, you might use terms like institución educativa, centro educativo or plantel educativo.
Which one should you use?
While escuela is a general term for any school, colegio is frequently used to refer specifically to primary or secondary schools and it often implies a private institution.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, colegio is often used exclusively for elementary or primary schools and secondary schools are commonly referred to as instituto. In Mexico, the term preparatoria is frequently used to refer to high school.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective escolar is used to describe things that are school-related or academic, such as school supplies.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈkwela/
Did you know?
- The word escuela comes from the Ancient Greek word 'skholē', which originally meant 'leisure' or 'spare time'. It implies that true learning and intellectual conversation were activities reserved for those with free time.
- The word colegio shares its Latin root collēgium with the English word 'college', but in Spanish, it usually refers to primary or secondary education.
- Because colegio often implies a private institution, calling a public school a colegio in certain countries might lead a local to believe you are talking about an expensive private academy.
Examples in context
- Voy a la escuela.I am going to school.This sentence is useful for expressing the act of 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 the 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 the past action of going to school using escuela.Tatoeba #3797017 by Seael, translation #3797008 by CM
- ¿Vas a la escuela hoy?Are you going to school today?
- Ayer estaba en el instituto cuando recibí tu mensaje.Yesterday, I was at school when I received your message.
- Nos vemos en el colegio por la tarde.We'll meet at school in the afternoon.
- Durante mi visita al plantel educativo, quedé impresionado por las instalaciones.During my visit to the educational establishment, I was impressed by the facilities.
- 1332 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about their children's education.
- LucíaLa escuela de mi hija es muy grande.My daughter's school is very large.
- Alejandro¿Está cerca de tu casa, Lucía?Is it near your house, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, la escuela está a dos calles.Yes, the school is two streets away.
- AlejandroQué bien que la escuela te quede cerca.It's great that the school is close to you.
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.
