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"Elementary school" is a noun which is often translated as "la escuela primaria", and "high school" is a noun which is often translated as "la escuela secundaria". Learn more about the difference between "elementary school" and "high school" below.
elementary school(
eh
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luh
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mehn
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tri
skul
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la escuela primaria (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I taught at an elementary school for ten years.Enseñé en una escuela primaria durante diez años.
b. la escuela básica (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
My son goes to the local elementary school.Mi hijo va a la escuela básica del barrio.
c. la escuela elemental (F) (Bolivia) (Caribbean)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Have you chosen an elementary school for Jessie yet?¿Ya han escogido una escuela elemental para Jessie?
2. (education)
a. la enseñanza primaria (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
My great-grandfather never finished primary school.Mi bisabuelo nunca terminó la enseñanza primaria.
b. la enseñanza básica (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Elementary school in most countries consists of six years of study.La enseñanza básica en la mayoría de los países se compone de seis años de estudios.
c. la primaria (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
My daughters have almost finished elementary school.Mis hijas casi han terminado la primaria.
d. la enseñanza elemental (F) (Bolivia) (Caribbean)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
In this state, elementary school begins at 5 years of age.En este estado, la enseñanza elemental empieza a los 5 años de edad.
e. la escuela elemental (F) (Bolivia) (Caribbean)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Germán is still too little to go to elementary school.Germán todavía está muy chico como para ir a la escuela elemental.
high school(
hay
skul
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (education)
a. la escuela secundaria (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
High school precedes college.La escuela secundaria precede la universidad.
b. la escuela preparatoria (F) (Mexico)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Mexico
I graduated from high school ten years ago.Me gradué de la escuela preparatoria hace diez años.
c. la prepa (F) (colloquial) (Mexico)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
When did you graduate from high school?¿Cuándo te graduaste de la prepa?
d. el instituto (M) (Spain)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Spain
There are a thousand students in the high school.En el instituto hay mil estudiantes.
e. el bachillerato (M) (studies) (El Salvador) (Spain) (Venezuela)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in El Salvador
Regionalism used in Spain
Regionalism used in Venezuela
High school is harder than I expected.El bachillerato es más difícil de lo que esperaba.
f. el liceo (M) (building) (Uruguay) (Venezuela)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Uruguay
Regionalism used in Venezuela
I have to walk two blocks to the high school.Tengo que caminar dos cuadras para llegar al liceo.
g. la enseñanza media (F) (Chile)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Chile
I'm studying biology in high school.Estoy estudiando biología en la enseñanza media.
h. el colegio (M) (Ecuador)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Ecuador
They need more teachers for the high school.Se necesitan más maestros para el colegio.
i. el instituto preuniversitario (M) (Cuba)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Cuba
They are opening a new high school.Están abriendo un instituto preuniversitario nuevo.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. de escuela secundaria
A group of high-school students won a prize for their revolutionary app.Un grupo de estudiantes de escuela secundaria ganó un premio por su app revolucionaria.
