ir a la escuela
/iɾ a la eskwela/from spelling rules
The English phrase "to go to school" is translated into Spanish as ir a la escuela.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb ir (to go), the preposition a (to), the definite article la (the) and the noun escuela (school).
Which one should you use?
While ir a la escuela is a direct translation, ir al colegio is a very common alternative used to refer to school in many Spanish-speaking countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ir a la escuela is conjugated in the first person singular present tense as voy a la escuela.
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'I went' using the verb ir, you use the word fui. This word is actually a hybrid that comes from the Latin verb 'esse', meaning 'to be'.
- In certain contexts, the word colegio can refer to a 'college' in English, but in most Spanish-speaking countries, it refers to a school for children and teenagers.
- Depending on the country, a student might say estoy en la escuela to mean they are currently a student in life, not necessarily that they are physically inside a building.
Examples in context
- Quiero ir a la escuela.I want to go to school.Tatoeba #2715104 by Shishir, translation #2714993 by CK
- Yo solía ir a la escuela.I used to go to school.Tatoeba #2707053 by cueyayotl, translation #2684403 by CK
- No quiero ir a la escuela.I don't want to go to school.Tatoeba #2941 by Shishir, translation #1860 by CK
- Los estudiantes asisten a la escuela todos los díasThe students attend school every day
- Los niños van a la escuela en autobúsThe children go to school by bus
- Los padres acuden al colegio para recoger a sus hijosParents go to the school to pick up their children
- ¿Vas al colegio en bicicleta?Do you go to school by bike?
- Vamos a la escuela juntosLet's go to school together
- Cada mañana, les llevo al colegio antes de ir al trabajoEvery morning, I take them to school before going to work
- Antes de ir al cole, debes preparar tu mochilaBefore going to school, you should pack your backpack
- Esta semana estaré estudiando mucho porque tengo que ir al instituto todos los díasThis week, I'll be studying a lot because I have to go to high school every day
- 41 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are talking about their morning routine.
- ElenaJavier, ¿tienes que ir a la escuela hoy?Javier, do you have to go to school today?
- JavierSí, Elena, tengo que ir a la escuela temprano.Yes, Elena, I have to go to school early.
- ElenaYo también voy a ir a la escuela.I am also going to go to school.
- JavierEntonces nos vemos allá.Then I will see you there.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, escuela, ir, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
