Inklingo

How to Say "lesson" in Spanish

English → Spanish

clase

/KLAH-seh//ˈklase/

NounA1General
Use 'clase' when referring to the actual session or meeting where learning takes place, like a scheduled class period.
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.

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' for a specific period of instruction, a piece of teaching material, or a moral or experience learned from an event.

Examples

La primera lección de español es muy fácil.

The first Spanish lesson is very easy.

tema

/TEH-mah//ˈte.ma/

NounB1Academic
Use 'tema' when referring to a specific topic, unit, or section of study within a broader subject, often for exams or coursework.
A vertical stack of three simple, colorful textbooks, where the top book is slightly elevated and separated from the rest of the stack, indicating a distinct unit.

Examples

Para el examen de mañana, hay que estudiar los tres primeros temas.

For tomorrow's exam, you have to study the first three units.

Hoy vamos a empezar un tema nuevo en la clase de historia.

Today we are going to start a new lesson in history class.

Clase vs. Lección

Learners often confuse 'clase' and 'lección'. Remember that 'clase' refers to the meeting or session itself (like 'class' in 'I have class'), while 'lección' refers to the content taught or a specific learning experience (like 'lesson' in 'a math lesson' or 'a lesson learned').

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.