Spanish word

bachillerato

Pronunciation

IPA/batʃiʝeˈɾato/

Meaning

  • masculine nounhigh school

Example

¿Has terminado el bachillerato?

Have you finished high school?

Illustration for bachillerato (high school)

More examples

Necesito el bachillerato para poder acceder a la universidad.

I need the high school diploma so I can go to university.

Core concept

Diploma awarded after completing upper-secondary studies, equivalent to a high school diploma in many systems.

Common phrases

  • terminar el bachillerato

    graduate from high school

  • cursar el bachillerato

    take the high school program

  • título de bachillerato

    high school diploma

Similar words

preparatoria: Mexican upper-secondary program focused on preparing students for university entrance.
secundaria: Lower-secondary schooling after primary education for early adolescents, similar to middle school.
instituto: Educational institution offering secondary-level courses and vocational training.
colegio: School whose scope ranges from primary through upper-secondary, depending on region.

Definition in Spanish

Etapa educativa de nivel secundario superior que otorga una certificación de estudios secundarios y habilita, según el país, para acceder a la universidad o a formación técnica superior.

Word origin

Formed from bachiller + -ato; bachiller comes from Medieval Latin baccalarius via Old French bacheler and shifted from a medieval academic title to mean secondary schooling.

Usage tips

  • Bachillerato is not the same as an English 'bachelor' degree, since in Spanish it usually denotes the secondary-stage qualification or its certificate of completion.

Other meanings

  • high school diplomanoun

Opposites

  • primariaprimary schoolnoun

Related words

  • bachillersecondary-school graduatenoun

Word lists with this word