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curso

KOOR-soh/ˈkuɾso/

course, module

Also: training session
NounmA1
A student sitting at a wooden desk with an open textbook, surrounded by colorful crayons and supplies, representing a specific class.

📝 In Action

Quiero apuntarme a un curso de cocina italiana.

A1

I want to sign up for an Italian cooking course.

Este curso es muy intensivo y dura tres meses.

A2

This course is very intensive and lasts three months.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • clase (class)
  • asignatura (subject)

Common Collocations

  • curso intensivo – intensive course
  • tomar un curso – to take a course

academic year, grade level

Also: school year
NounmA2
A colorful illustration showing a transition. On the left, a school building is surrounded by green trees, transitioning to the right where the same building is surrounded by snow, symbolizing the passage of the full school year.

📝 In Action

Mi hermana está en el segundo curso de la universidad.

A2

My sister is in the second year of university.

El próximo curso escolar empieza en septiembre.

B1

The next school year starts in September.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • curso escolar – school year
  • primer curso – first year/grade

flow, path

Also: stream
NounmB1neutral/formal
A serene illustration of a winding blue river flowing steadily through a green valley with small, rolling hills, depicting the continuous movement of water.

📝 In Action

El curso del río se desvió por la sequía.

B1

The flow/course of the river was diverted due to the drought.

Hay que dejar que los acontecimientos sigan su curso natural.

C1

We must let events follow their natural course.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • seguir su curso – to take its course
  • el curso de los eventos – the course of events

Idioms & Expressions

  • dar curso a algo – to process or allow something to proceed (e.g., an application)

in progress, underway

Also: ongoing
NounmB2neutral/formal
A winding yellow brick road stretching from the foreground toward a distant, sunlit horizon, symbolizing a journey or process currently underway.

📝 In Action

El proyecto de construcción está en curso y terminará el mes que viene.

B2

The construction project is underway and will finish next month.

Las negociaciones siguen en curso a pesar de los problemas.

C1

The negotiations are still in progress despite the problems.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • activo (active)
  • marcha (in motion (often used in 'en marcha'))

Common Collocations

  • estar en curso – to be in progress
  • investigación en curso – ongoing investigation

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: curso

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'curso' to mean the entire academic year?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cursar(to study (a subject)) — Verb
cursillo(short course/workshop) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin term *cursus*, which meant 'running,' 'way,' or 'journey.' This root explains all the modern meanings: a school course is a 'journey' through a subject, and the flow of a river is its 'way' or 'path.'

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

English: courseFrench: cours

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'curso' different from 'clase'?

'Curso' usually refers to the entire structured program or subject (like 'History 101'). 'Clase' usually refers to a single meeting or session of that course (like 'today's class'). You take a 'curso,' and you attend a 'clase.'

Can I use 'curso' to talk about the flow of time?

Yes, absolutely! You can say 'el curso del tiempo' (the course of time) or 'en el curso de los años' (in the course of the years). This is a more poetic or formal usage.