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"High school" is a noun which is often translated as "la escuela secundaria", and "middle school" is a noun which is also often translated as "la escuela secundaria". Learn more about the difference between "high school" and "middle school" below.
high school(
hay
 
skul
)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. la escuela secundaria
(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).
(F)
High school precedes college.La escuela secundaria precede la universidad.
b. la escuela preparatoria
(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).
(F)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
I graduated from high school ten years ago.Me gradué de la escuela preparatoria hace diez años.
c. la prepa
(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).
(F)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
When did you graduate from high school?¿Cuándo te graduaste de la prepa?
d. el instituto
(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).
(M)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
There are a thousand students in the high school.En el instituto hay mil estudiantes.
e. el bachillerato
(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).
(M)
(studies)
Regionalism used in El Salvador
(El Salvador)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
Regionalism used in Venezuela
(Venezuela)
High school is harder than I expected.El bachillerato es más difícil de lo que esperaba.
f. el liceo
(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).
(M)
(building)
Regionalism used in Uruguay
(Uruguay)
Regionalism used in Venezuela
(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) 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).
(F)
Regionalism used in Chile
(Chile)
I'm studying biology in high school.Estoy estudiando biología en la enseñanza media.
h. el colegio
(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).
(M)
Regionalism used in Ecuador
(Ecuador)
They need more teachers for the high school.Se necesitan más maestros para el colegio.
i. el instituto preuniversitario
(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).
(M)
Regionalism used in Cuba
(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).
adjective
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.
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middle school(
mih
-
duhl
 
skul
)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. la escuela secundaria
(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).
(F)
She played soccer during her time in middle school.Ella jugó fútbol durante su tiempo en la escuela secundaria.
b. la escuela intermedia
(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).
(F)
My nephew just finished sixth grade and is ready to go to middle school.Mi sobrino acaba de terminar la primaria y está listo para ir a la escuela intermedia.
c. la escuela media
(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).
(F)
The mayor congratulated the middle school students on their good grades.El alcalde felicitó a los alumnos de la escuela media por sus calificaciones altas.
d. la secundaria
(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).
(F)
Veronica graduated from middle school in May.Verónica se graduó de la secundaria en mayo.
Copyright © 2025 Curiosity Media Inc.