Inklingo
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A stately, classic university building made of light stone, featuring tall columns and a prominent arched entrance. Two young students are walking up the front steps carrying backpacks.

universidad

/oo-nee-behr-see-DAHD/

NounfA1
university?institution of higher education
Also:college?especially in US English, 'college' is often used for 'university'

📝 In Action

Mi hermana estudia en la universidad.

A1

My sister studies at the university.

Me gustaría ir a una universidad en España.

A2

I would like to go to a university in Spain.

La universidad ofrece muchos cursos interesantes.

B1

The university offers many interesting courses.

Se graduó de la universidad con honores.

B2

He graduated from the university with honors.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • academia (academia)
  • centro de estudios superiores (center for higher learning)

Common Collocations

  • ir a la universidad – to go to university
  • entrar en la universidad – to get into university
  • graduarse de la universidad – to graduate from university
  • profesor de universidad – university professor

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

The word 'universidad' is always feminine. This means you should always use feminine words like 'la', 'una', or 'esta' with it. For example, 'la universidad es grande' (the university is big).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'universidad' and 'colegio'

Mistake: "Estudio biología en el colegio."

Correction: Estudio biología en la universidad. In Spanish, 'colegio' almost always means high school or a younger school. For higher education, you must use 'universidad'.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Casual Nickname: 'la uni'

In everyday, informal chats, especially with younger people, you'll often hear 'la uni'. It's a friendly, common abbreviation. For example: '¿Nos vemos en la uni?' (See you at the uni?).

Talking About Your Major

To say what you study, the pattern is simple: 'Estudio [your major] en la universidad'. For example, 'Estudio derecho en la universidad' (I study law at the university).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: universidad

Question 1 of 2

Your friend in Madrid is 16 years old. Where does he most likely study?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

universitario(university (related to), university student) - adjective/noun
universal(universal) - adjective
universo(universe) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main difference between 'universidad' and 'colegio' in Spanish?

In almost all Spanish-speaking regions, 'universidad' refers to higher education where you earn a degree. 'Colegio' is for primary or secondary school (like K-12 in the US). This is a very common point of confusion for English speakers, who often use 'college' for higher education.

How do I say 'I'm a university student'?

You can say 'Soy estudiante universitario' (if you're male) or 'Soy estudiante universitaria' (if you're female). You can also simply say 'Estudio en la universidad' (I study at the university).