colegio
“colegio” means “school” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
school
Also: high school, grade school
📝 In Action
Mi hijo empieza el colegio nuevo en septiembre.
A1My son starts the new school in September.
Fui al mismo colegio que mi padre.
A2I went to the same school as my father.
Ella es profesora en un colegio bilingüe.
B1She is a teacher in a bilingual school.
professional association, bar association
Also: college
📝 In Action
Para ejercer la abogacía, debes estar inscrito en el colegio de abogados.
B2To practice law, you must be registered with the bar association.
El colegio médico emitió un comunicado sobre la nueva ley de sanidad.
C1The college of physicians issued a statement regarding the new health law.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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Words that translate to "colegio" in Spanish:
bar association→college→grade school→high school→professional association→school→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: colegio
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the word 'colegio' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *collegium*, which meant 'association, partnership, or body of colleagues'. The original meaning focused on a group of peers working together (like the Roman Senate). This meaning then extended to groups of students or teachers, eventually becoming the modern word for 'school'.
First recorded: 13th century (in Romance languages)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Colegio vs. Escuela? Are they the same?
They are very similar. Both mean 'school.' In general usage, 'escuela' is often broader (it can mean a driving school, a cooking school, or primary school). 'Colegio' usually refers specifically to a primary or secondary institution where you get basic education (K-12).
If I want to talk about university or trade school, what word should I use instead of 'colegio'?
For university, use 'universidad' or 'facultad'. For a technical or trade school, use 'escuela técnica' or 'instituto' (depending on the country).