Spanish vocabulary: School and education

In the previous lesson, we learnt about school subjects in Spanish. In today's lesson, we will show you common words and vocabulary related to school and education. In Spain, education is state-funded, compulsory, and free for all children between the ages of 6 and 16. Schools in Spain can be divided into 3 categories: state schools (colegios públicos), state-funded private schools (colegios concertados), and  purely private schools (colegios privados).

Spanish vocabulary: School and education

Schools

• School - la escuela/el colegio
• pre-school - el preescolar
• kindergarten - jardín de niños/jardín infantil
• primary school - la escuela primaria
• secondary school - el centro de enseñanza secundaria
• high school - La preparatoria (la prepa)
• university - la universidad
• state schools - colegios públicos
• state-funded private schools - colegios concertados
• purely private schools - colegios privados
• vocational school - la escuela de formación profesional
• faculty - la facultad
• a degree - una licenciatura
  
• education level - nivel de educación

At school

• a class - una clase
• a classroom - una aula
• dining hall - el comedor
• laboratory - el laboratorio
• library - la biblioteca
• a desk - un pupitre
• blackboard - la pizarra
• chalk - la tiza
• a book - un libro
• school bag - la cartera
• a pencil - un lápiz
• pen - el bolígrafo
• scissors - las tijeras
• glue - el pegamento
• a ruler - una regla
• a fountain pen - una pluma
• a pencil sharpener - un sacapuntas
• eraser - el borrador
• lesson - la lección
• homework - los deberes/la tarea
• essay - el ensayo
• test - el examen
• a written exam - un examen escrito
• a multiple choice test - un examen tipo test
• core subjects - materias fundamentales
• curriculum - currículo, plan de estudios

Teachers and pupils

• the head teacher/principal - el director/la directora
• a teacher - un profesor/una profesora
• a pupil - un alumno/una alumna
• a student - un estudiante/una estudiante
• a classmate - un compañero/una compañera de clase
• a professor - un catedrático

Common verbs and phrases

• to go to school/university - ir al colegio/instituto/a la universidad
• study - estudiar
• learn - aprender
• to do my/your homework - hacer los deberes
• play truant - hacer novillos
• pass - aprobar
• fail - suspender
• revise - repasar
• prepare for an exam - prepararse para un examen
• sit/take an exam - presentarse a/hacer un examen
• enroll - Inscribirse/matricularse

See also: Common Spanish verbs you need to know

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