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"Preparatoria" is a form of "preparatoria", a noun which is often translated as "high school". "Vocacional" is an adjective which is often translated as "vocational". Learn more about the difference between "preparatoria" and "vocacional" below.
la preparatoria()
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (education) (Central America) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. high school
Me gradué de la preparatoria y empecé a trabajar cuando tenía dieciocho años.I graduated from high school and began working when I was eighteen.
b. secondary school
Comencé a estudiar francés cuando iba a la preparatoria.I began studying French when I was in secondary school.
c. college (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Ya terminas la preparatoria. ¿Qué vas a estudiar en la universidad?You're finishing college soon. What are you going to study at university?
vocacional, la vocacional()
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. vocational
Nuestra universidad les ofrece educación vocacional a quienes no quieren seguir un camino a obtener un título.Our university offers vocational education for those who don't want to follow a degree track.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
2. (colloquial) (technical school) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. technical college
La vocacional de mi ciudad prepara a quienes quieren ser informáticos y diseñadores.The technical college in my city prepares those who want to become computer experts and designers.
