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"Colegio" is a noun which is often translated as "school", and "prepa" is a noun which is often translated as "high school". Learn more about the difference between "colegio" and "prepa" below.
el colegio(
koh
-
leh
-
hyoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. school
El hijo de mi jefe asiste al mismo colegio que mi hija.My boss's son goes to the same school as my daughter.
Mis hijas estudian en un colegio cerca de la casa.My daughters study at a school near our house.
2. (group)
b. association
El Colegio de Arquitectos tendrá su reunión anual en Nueva York.The Architects Association will have its annual meeting in New York.
la prepa(
preh
-
pah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (colloquial) (education) (Guatemala) (Mexico) (Nicaragua)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Guatemala
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Nicaragua
a. high school (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Cuando me gradúe de la prepa, voy a estudiar veterinaria en la universidad.When I graduate from high school, I'm going to study veterinary medicine in college.
b. college (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Tengo 17; todavía estudio en la prepa.I'm 17; I'm still in college.
c. secondary school
Alan y yo nos hicimos mejores amigos en la prepa.Alan and I became best friends in secondary school.
