Inklingo

How to Say "grade school" in Spanish

English → Spanish

colegio

coh-LEH-heeoh/koˈlexjo/

nounA1general
Use 'colegio' when referring to the institution or building where primary education takes place, especially when talking about a child attending school.
A simple illustration showing a bright yellow school bus parked next to a traditional red-brick school building with large windows.

Examples

Mi hermano pequeño va al colegio por las mañanas.

My little brother goes to grade school in the mornings.

Mi hijo empieza el colegio nuevo en septiembre.

My son starts the new school in September.

Fui al mismo colegio que mi padre.

I went to the same school as my father.

Ella es profesora en un colegio bilingüe.

She is a teacher in a bilingual school.

Gender and Articles

Since 'colegio' is masculine, always use the article 'el' before it: 'el colegio'. If you are talking about multiple schools, use 'los colegios'.

False Friend Alert: Not 'College'

Mistake: “Using 'colegio' to mean 'university' or 'college' (higher education).”

Correction: This is a 'false friend'. 'Colegio' means K-12 school. For higher education, use 'universidad' or 'facultad'.

primaria

pree-MAH-ree-ah/pɾiˈma.ɾja/

nounA2informal
Use 'primaria' when specifically referring to the educational stage of primary school, often in questions about past schooling or the curriculum.
A colorful, simple illustration of a small primary school building with a red roof and green lawn, representing the first stage of education.

Examples

Los niños aprenden a leer y escribir en la primaria.

Children learn to read and write in primary school.

¿A qué edad terminaste la primaria?

At what age did you finish primary school?

Mi hija está en segundo de primaria.

My daughter is in the second grade of elementary school.

Aprendimos a leer y escribir en la primaria.

We learned to read and write in grade school.

Always Feminine

Even though it refers to a place, 'primaria' is a feminine noun, so you always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Using 'colegio' vs. 'primaria'

Mistake: “Using 'colegio' when specifically referring to the primary level.”

Correction: While 'colegio' means school, 'la primaria' is specific to the first level of required education (ages 6-12, typically).

Colegio vs. Primaria

Learners often use 'colegio' to refer to the educational stage itself. Remember that 'colegio' leans towards the physical school or institution, while 'primaria' is the specific term for the primary education level.

Related Translations

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