educación especial
/edukaθjon espeθjal/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "special education" is translated into Spanish as educación especial. Wiktionary also lists educación diferencial.
Meaning: educational services designed for students with learning difficulties (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| educación especial | /edukaθjon espeθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /edukasjon espesjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| educación diferencial | /edukaθjon difeɾenθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /edukasjon difeɾensjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
The term refers to educational services designed for students with learning difficulties.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because educación is a feminine noun, the definite article la must be used if the phrase is preceded by an article, resulting in la educación especial.
How do you pronounce it?
/edukaθjon espeθjal/
Did you know?
- The word especial shares a Latin ancestor with the English word 'species', as both stem from the root related to 'appearance' or 'kind'.
- While especial in English often implies something 'excellent' or 'better than usual', in Spanish especial is more neutrally used to denote 'specific' or 'particular' categories.
- In certain official documents, the phrase educación especial is replaced by educación inclusiva to shift the focus from the disability to the accessibility of the system.
Examples in context
- Tom está en una clase de educación especial.Tom is in a special education class.Tatoeba #4613601 by DarkHollow, translation #2738742 by Hybrid
- Los docentes están especializados en educación especial para satisfacer las necesidades de los estudiantes.The teachers are specialized in special education to meet the students' needs.
- El colegio cuenta con programas de educación adaptada para niños con discapacidades.The school has adapted education programs for children with disabilities.
- Ella trabaja en el departamento de educación especial.She works in the special education department.
- Necesitamos más fondos para la educación especial.We need more funds for special education.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are discussing a new school program.
- Lucía¿Qué opinas de la educación especial aquí?What do you think about special education here?
- DanielCreo que el programa de educación especial es bueno.I think the special education program is good.
- LucíaDaniel, ¿has visto los nuevos materiales?Daniel, have you seen the new materials?
- DanielSí, son muy útiles para los alumnos.Yes, they are very useful for the students.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “special education” translations and entries educación especial, educación diferencial, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries educación, educación diferencial, especial, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
