A2 vocabulary guide
Spanish school vocabulary: learn the language of the classroom
School vocabulary helps you talk about lessons, ask what homework is due and describe what you are studying. In Spain, colegio often refers to primary school, instituto to secondary school and universidad to university, though institutions and regional terminology differ.
Start with the pattern
Words are easier to keep when they make sense.
A class can be una clase, which may mean a lesson or a group of students; asignatura is a school subject. Use tener clase to say you have a lesson and estudiar for the activity of studying. Hacer los deberes is a common Spain expression for doing homework.
For classroom objects, keep the article attached to each word: el cuaderno, la pizarra. A written assignment is often un trabajo; an exam is un examen. Examen is masculine despite ending in -en and its plural is exámenes, with an accent.
Hear it in a sentence
Examples in everyday Spanish
Los martes tengo clase de historia después del recreo.
On Tuesdays I have history class after break.
Hay que entregar el trabajo antes del viernes.
The assignment has to be handed in before Friday.
Mi hermana estudia biología en la universidad.
My sister studies biology at university.
¿Qué deberes tenemos para mañana?
What homework do we have for tomorrow?
Listen for the local detail
A note on Spanish in Spain
- Colegio and instituto are especially useful in Spain, but school stages and labels are not identical across the Spanish-speaking world.
- Deberes is common for homework in Spain; tarea or tareas are frequent alternatives elsewhere.
Look out for
Common mistakes, made clearer
Avoid
Tengo una asignatura means “I have a lesson right now.”
Use / understand
Tengo clase for having a class; estudio una asignatura for studying a subject.
Clase and asignatura cover different aspects of school.
Avoid
La examen.
Use / understand
El examen.
Examen is masculine; the plural is exámenes.
Avoid
Hago los deberes translated as “I make the duties.”
Use / understand
Hago los deberes means “I do my homework.”
This is a conventional expression.
Five quick checks
Try it before you peek.
- 01
What does la asignatura mean?
Reveal answer and explanation
School subject.
Clase is a lesson or class; asignatura is the subject.
- 02
Translate “I have maths class on Monday.”
Reveal answer and explanation
Tengo clase de matemáticas el lunes.
Tener clase is a natural way to say you have a lesson.
- 03
What is a common Spain term for homework?
Reveal answer and explanation
Los deberes.
Tareas is common in many other varieties.
- 04
Correct the article: ___ examen.
Reveal answer and explanation
El examen.
Examen is masculine.
- 05
Translate “to pass an exam.”
Reveal answer and explanation
Aprobar un examen.
Aprobar means pass in the context of a test.
Still wondering
Questions about spanish school vocabulary: learn the language of the classroom
Is colegio the same as college?
Not necessarily. In Spain, colegio commonly means primary school, while universidad is university. English “college” does not map consistently to colegio.
How do I say homework in Spanish?
In Spain, los deberes is common. Tarea or tareas are frequent alternatives elsewhere, and the choice depends on region.
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