escuela
/es-KWEH-lah/
school
Escuela (school) refers to a building where children receive education.
escuela(Noun)
school
?A place for children's education, like elementary or high school.
elementary school
?Often refers specifically to the school for younger children.
📝 In Action
Los niños van a la escuela en autobús.
A1The children go to school by bus.
Mi hermana es maestra en una escuela primaria.
A2My sister is a teacher at a primary school.
Después de la escuela, voy a jugar al fútbol.
A1After school, I'm going to play soccer.
💡 Grammar Points
Always use 'la' with 'escuela'
In Spanish, when you talk about going to or being at school in a general sense, you almost always include 'la'. For example, 'Voy a la escuela' (I'm going to school), not 'Voy a escuela'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Escuela' vs. 'Colegio'
Mistake: "Using 'escuela' for all types of schools."
Correction: The difference changes by country! Often, 'escuela' is for younger kids (elementary) and 'colegio' is for older kids (high school) or private schools. When in doubt, 'escuela' for a general school is usually safe.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Building vs. The Idea
You can use 'escuela' to talk about the physical building ('La escuela es grande') or the general idea of your time being a student ('La escuela era difícil para mí').
Escuela can also mean a specialized college or department, such as an art school (escuela de arte).
escuela(Noun)
school
?A specific department or faculty within a university.
college
?As in 'college of engineering'.
,academy
?For specialized training, like a music or dance academy.
📝 In Action
Mi hermano se graduó de la escuela de derecho.
B1My brother graduated from law school.
Ella quiere estudiar en una famosa escuela de arte en París.
B2She wants to study at a famous art school in Paris.
La escuela de negocios tiene un programa nuevo.
B1The business school has a new program.
⭐ Usage Tips
Look for 'de'
This meaning is almost always followed by 'de' + a subject (e.g., 'escuela de arquitectura'). This pattern is your clue that it's talking about a specialized institution, not a general school for kids.
In a formal context, escuela refers to a shared set of ideas or style, like a philosophical or artistic school of thought.
escuela(Noun)
school
?A group of people sharing a style or set of ideas.
school of thought
?A particular way of thinking.
,movement
?An artistic or intellectual trend.
📝 In Action
Este pintor pertenece a la escuela holandesa del siglo XVII.
B2This painter belongs to the 17th-century Dutch school.
La escuela de Frankfurt tuvo un gran impacto en la teoría social.
C1The Frankfurt School had a great impact on social theory.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Style' not 'Building'
When you hear 'escuela' used this way, it's not about a physical place. It's about a group of people (artists, writers, thinkers) who all have a similar style or set of beliefs.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: escuela
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'escuela' to mean a university department?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'escuela' and 'colegio'?
It's tricky because it changes by country! As a general rule, 'escuela' often refers to primary/elementary school. 'Colegio' can mean a high school, a private school of any level, or even a professional association (like for doctors or lawyers). In Spain, 'instituto' is the common word for a public high school. If you're not sure, using 'escuela' for a general 'school' is usually understood.