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pre

prehpɾe

“pre” means “prep school / university prep course” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

prep school / university prep course

Also: cram school
NounfB1informal
Peru/Mexico
A stack of colorful textbooks and a sharpened pencil on a clean wooden desk.

📝 In Action

Ella estudia todo el día en la pre.

A2

She studies all day at the prep school.

Si quieres entrar a la universidad, debes inscribirte en una buena pre.

B1

If you want to get into university, you should enroll in a good prep course.

Muchos jóvenes hacen nuevos amigos durante el ciclo de la pre.

B2

Many young people make new friends during the prep school term.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • preuniversitario (university prep)
  • academia (academy)

Common Collocations

  • estar en la pre – to be in prep school
  • ciclo pre – prep school term

pre-game / pre-party

NounfB2slang
ArgentinaSpain
A group of friends laughing and talking in a cozy living room with snacks on a table.

📝 In Action

¿A qué hora empieza la pre?

B1

What time does the pre-party start?

Hicimos una pre corta en mi casa antes de ir al boliche.

B2

We had a short pre-game at my house before going to the club.

La pre se alargó y al final no fuimos a la fiesta.

C1

The pre-party went on too long and in the end we didn't go to the party.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • previa (pre-game)
  • botellón (outdoor drinking session (Spain))

Common Collocations

  • hacer la pre – to have a pre-party
  • organizar la pre – to organize the pre-game

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pre" in Spanish:

cram school→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pre

Question 1 of 3

In a student context in Peru, what is 'la pre'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
previo(previous) — Adjective
previamente(previously) — Adverb
prefijo(prefix) — Noun
preuniversitario(university prep) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin prefix 'prae-', meaning 'before' or 'in front of'. In modern Spanish, it has evolved from a prefix into a 'clipped' noun used in slang and student life.

First recorded: Modern era (as a standalone noun)

Cognates (Related words)

English: pre-French: pré-

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'pre' masculine or feminine?

It is almost always feminine ('la pre') because it stands for feminine nouns like 'academia' or 'previa'.

Is 'pre' a formal word?

No, it is very informal. In a formal essay, you should write the full word like 'preuniversitario' or 'antes de'.

Do people in all Spanish-speaking countries use it?

While 'pre-' is a prefix everywhere, using 'la pre' as a noun is most common in Latin America (for school) and the Southern Cone or Spain (for parties).