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"Clases" is a form of "clase", a noun which is often translated as "class". "Cursos" is a form of "curso", a noun which is often translated as "year". Learn more about the difference between "clases" and "cursos" below.
la clase(
klah
-
seh
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (course)
b. lesson
Silvia se gana la vida dando clases particulares de alemán.Silvia earns her living teaching private German lessons.
c. lecture (in college)
¿A qué hora empieza la clase de álgebra?What time does the algebra lecture start?
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Yo regreso a mi pueblo cuando acaban las clases y empiezan las vacaciones de verano.I return to my hometown when school is over and the summer break starts.
Te veo después de las clases.I'll see you after class.
2. (room)
a. school
El lunes que viene no hay clase porque es fiesta.Next Monday we don't have school because it's a holiday.
5. (type)
6. (category)
7. (transport)
8. (refinement)
9. (sociology)
el curso(
koor
-
soh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. year
Estoy en mi cuarto curso en la facultad de medicina.I'm in my fourth year of medical school.
c. academic year
El nuevo horario de clases entrará en vigor este curso.The new class schedule will take effect this academic year.
2. (class)
a. course
Este trimestre estoy tomando un curso de inglés y uno de francés.This semester I'm taking an English course and a French course.
3. (direction)
a. course
Las pruebas cambiaron el curso de la investigación.The new evidence changed the course of the investigation.
a. course
El curso del río desaparece bajo la montaña.The course of the river disappears under the mountain.
