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college and Spanish colegio
In English
college
university
In Spanish
colegio
escuela
Spanish "colegio" means: school
Why they get mixed up In many Spanish-speaking countries, "colegio" is elementary or high school. English "college" is a higher-education institution. This gap in educational level is the source of the confusion.
If you want to say...
- collegeuniversidad
- school (children)colegio
- high schoolsecundaria o preparatoria
Examples
She's going to college next year.
Va a entrar a la universidad el próximo año.
He studied art in college.
Estudió arte en la universidad.
Which college did you go to?
¿A qué universidad fuiste?
College tuition keeps getting more expensive.
La matrícula universitaria sigue subiendo.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Mi hermana va al colegio para ser doctora.
Correct: Mi hermana va a la universidad para ser doctora.
Colegio is a school for children and teens, not a university.
Incorrect: Me gradué del colegio con una licenciatura.
Correct: Me gradué de la universidad con una licenciatura.
A bachelor's degree comes from a universidad.
Phrases you will hear
- go to collegeir a la universidad
- college studentsestudiantes universitarios
- a college degreeun título universitario
- college tuitionla matrícula universitaria
- a community collegeun colegio comunitario
- elementary schoolescuela primaria
In a conversation
- A:
Are you in college?
¿Estás en la universidad?
- B:
Yes, I study biology.
Sí, estudio biología.
- A:
My son is in elementary school.
Mi hijo está en la escuela primaria.
- B:
That's a big difference. College is much more expensive.
Es una gran diferencia. La universidad es mucho más cara.
Test yourself
"I'm in college" means...
To remember it
College = university. A children's school (Spanish "colegio") = school.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "colegio" mean?
Spanish "colegio" means "school". It looks like the English "college", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "college" means "university".
Does English "college" mean the same as Spanish "colegio"?
In many Spanish-speaking countries, "colegio" is elementary or high school. English "college" is a higher-education institution. This gap in educational level is the source of the confusion.