Inklingo

How to Say "class" in Spanish

English → Spanish

clase

/KLAH-seh//ˈklase/

nounA1general
Use 'clase' when referring to a scheduled period of instruction, like a school subject or a lesson you attend.
A teacher pointing at a large whiteboard while three young students sit attentively at their desks in a colorful classroom, depicting a scheduled lesson.

Examples

Tengo clase de español a las diez.

I have Spanish class at ten.

La clase de hoy fue muy interesante.

Today's class was very interesting.

Me apunté a unas clases de baile.

I signed up for some dance classes.

La película explora las diferencias entre la clase alta y la clase trabajadora.

The movie explores the differences between the upper class and the working class.

It's a Feminine Noun

Even though 'clase' doesn't end in '-a', it's a feminine word. So, you always say 'la clase' (the class) or 'una clase' (a class). Never 'el clase'.

'Clase' vs. 'Lección'

Mistake: “Using them in exactly the same way all the time.”

Correction: 'Clase' is better for the scheduled event ('Tengo clase a las 3'). 'Lección' is better for the specific unit of study ('Hoy estudiamos la lección 5'). But in many situations, they can overlap.

clase

/KLAH-seh//ˈklase/

nounB2general
Use 'clase' to talk about social or economic standing, such as the upper class or the working class.
A teacher pointing at a large whiteboard while three young students sit attentively at their desks in a colorful classroom, depicting a scheduled lesson.

Examples

La película explora las diferencias entre la clase alta y la clase trabajadora.

The movie explores the differences between the upper class and the working class.

Tengo clase de español a las diez.

I have Spanish class at ten.

La clase de hoy fue muy interesante.

Today's class was very interesting.

Me apunté a unas clases de baile.

I signed up for some dance classes.

It's a Feminine Noun

Even though 'clase' doesn't end in '-a', it's a feminine word. So, you always say 'la clase' (the class) or 'una clase' (a class). Never 'el clase'.

'Clase' vs. 'Lección'

Mistake: “Using them in exactly the same way all the time.”

Correction: 'Clase' is better for the scheduled event ('Tengo clase a las 3'). 'Lección' is better for the specific unit of study ('Hoy estudiamos la lección 5'). But in many situations, they can overlap.

lección

nounA1general
Use 'lección' to refer to a single, specific session of learning or a lesson taught, often implying content covered.

Examples

La primera lección de español es muy fácil.

The first Spanish lesson is very easy.

categoría

nounB1general
Use 'categoría' when you mean a division, type, or grouping within a larger system or classification.

Examples

Los productos se dividen en tres categorías: A, B y C.

The products are divided into three categories: A, B, and C.

familia

/fa-MEE-lee-ah//faˈmi.lja/

nounB2general
Use 'familia' when referring to a linguistic or biological group, or a broader classification system.
A majestic lion standing side-by-side with a majestic tiger in a jungle clearing, representing a shared scientific classification.

Examples

El español pertenece a la familia de las lenguas romances.

Spanish belongs to the family of Romance languages.

Los leones y los tigres son de la misma familia.

Lions and tigers are from the same family.

Este software viene con una nueva familia de tipografías.

This software comes with a new family of fonts.

Confusing 'clase' with 'lección'

Learners often confuse 'clase' and 'lección' when talking about school. Remember that 'clase' refers to the scheduled event or period (like 'class time'), while 'lección' refers to the specific content or session of learning (like 'the lesson itself').

Related Translations

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