Spanish Conversation · Level 8
90 words
Spanish word
instituto
Pronunciation
IPA/instiˈtuto/
Meaning
- masculine nounhigh school
Example
Mi hermana estudia en el instituto del barrio.
My sister studies at the neighborhood high school.
More examples
El instituto de la ciudad ofrece cursos nocturnos.
The city's high school offers evening courses.
Core concept
A courtyard where teenage students gather between lessons at a local secondary school.
Common phrases
estudiar en el instituto
study at the high school
profesor del instituto
high school teacher
clases del instituto
high school classes
Similar words
colegio: Local school in a town or neighborhood where children attend regular classes.
escuela: School for young children that provides basic instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Definition in Spanish
Centro educativo donde los alumnos cursan la educación secundaria; en sentido amplio, término también usado para centros de formación especializada o de investigación.
Word origin
From Latin institutum 'established thing', from the verb instituere 'to set up', the word entered Spanish to name established educational institutions and is now commonly used for secondary schools.
Usage tips
- In Spain and many contexts the definite article is used (el instituto), and expressions like 'estudio en el instituto' or 'voy al instituto' sound natural when saying one attends high school.
Other meanings
- research institutenoun
- institutionnoun
Related words
- institucióninstitutionnoun
- institucionalinstitutionaladjective