School in Different Languages
Discover 'School' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
School, a place of learning and growth, holds immense significance in our lives. It's where we acquire knowledge, develop skills, and build relationships that often last a lifetime. The cultural importance of schools varies across the globe, but the underlying purpose remains the same: to educate and empower future generations.
Delving into the word's translation in different languages offers a fascinating glimpse into how various cultures perceive and value education. For instance, in Spanish, 'school' is 'escuela'; in French, it's 'école'; in German, 'Schule'; and in Japanese, it's '学校' (gakkō).
Did you know that the concept of schools dates back to ancient civilizations? The Greeks had their Lyceums, the Romans their Academies, and the Indians their Gurukuls. Knowing the translation of 'school' in different languages not only satiates our linguistic curiosity but also underlines the universal human quest for knowledge.
School
School in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | skool | ||
| The Afrikaans word "skool" is derived from the Middle Dutch "schole" and Latin "schola," and can also refer to a group of fish. | |||
| Amharic | ትምህርት ቤት | ||
| Hausa | makaranta | ||
| In Hausa, 'makaranta' is also a name given to a student who attends Quranic classes. | |||
| Igbo | ụlọ akwụkwọ | ||
| Ụlọ Akwụkwọ, meaning "house of knowledge" in Igbo, can also refer to a library or a place of learning. | |||
| Malagasy | am-pianarana | ||
| The Malagasy word "am-pianarana" literally translates to "the place of learning." | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | sukulu | ||
| The word "sukulu" can also refer to a "meeting place". | |||
| Shona | chikoro | ||
| The word "chikoro" in Shona has its origins in the Nguni language, where it originally meant "kraal" or "enclosure." | |||
| Somali | dugsiga | ||
| The Somali word 'dugsiga' is derived from the Arabic word 'dukkan', which means 'shop' or 'store'. | |||
| Sesotho | sekolo | ||
| In some places it also refers to a place where traditional ceremonies are held. | |||
| Swahili | shule | ||
| Swahili derives its word "shule" from Arabic "madrasa". Arabic also uses the word "maktab" with the same meaning. | |||
| Xhosa | isikolo | ||
| In Xhosa, the term "isikolo" not only refers to an educational institution but also carries the broader meaning of "gathering place" or "meeting point within a community." | |||
| Yoruba | ile-iwe | ||
| Ile-iwe is also the Yoruba word for "library" and means "the home of knowledge". | |||
| Zulu | isikole | ||
| The Zulu word "isikole" is derived from the Old Norse word "skóli" meaning "place of leisure, relaxation and gossip" | |||
| Bambara | kalanso | ||
| Ewe | suku | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ishuri | ||
| Lingala | eteyelo | ||
| Luganda | essomero | ||
| Sepedi | sekolo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | sukuu | ||
School in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مدرسة | ||
| In Arabic, "مدرسة" (school) originates from "درس" (to study), and can also mean a place of Islamic learning or a group of scholars. | |||
| Hebrew | בית ספר | ||
| בית ספר, composed of "house" and "book", refers to a place where learning resides. | |||
| Pashto | ښوونځی | ||
| Arabic | مدرسة | ||
| In Arabic, "مدرسة" (school) originates from "درس" (to study), and can also mean a place of Islamic learning or a group of scholars. | |||
School in Western European Languages
| Albanian | shkollë | ||
| The word "shkollë" in Albanian originates from the Latin "schola", meaning "leisure" or "discussion". | |||
| Basque | eskola | ||
| The Basque word "eskola" comes from the Latin "schola", meaning "leisure". It has also been used to refer to "a place where one meets to discuss or learn", and "a group of people who share a common interest or profession". | |||
| Catalan | escola | ||
| The Catalan word "escola" is derived from the Greek word "skhole," meaning "leisure" or "free time," indicating a place where people gathered to pursue knowledge and wisdom. | |||
| Croatian | škola | ||
| The word "škola" in Croatian comes from the Latin "schola", meaning "free time for learning" or "discussion." | |||
| Danish | skole | ||
| The Danish word "skole" originally meant "leisure" or "spare time," but over time came to refer to "school." | |||
| Dutch | school- | ||
| De oorspronkelijke betekenis van "school-" in het Nederlands was "schare, troep", terwijl "school" afgeleid is van het Griekse "skholḗ" dat "vrije tijd" of "onderricht" betekent. | |||
| English | school | ||
| "School" derives from the Greek word "skholē" meaning "leisure" or "free time from work, especially for leisure activities". | |||
| French | école | ||
| The word 'école' derives from the Latin word 'schola', meaning 'leisure' or 'free time', and was later used to refer to a place of learning. | |||
| Frisian | skoalle | ||
| The Frisian word "skoalle" is likely derived from the Old Frisian word "skole", which itself comes from the Latin word "schola" meaning "leisure" or "study". | |||
| Galician | escola | ||
| Galician "escola" derives from Greek "skholḗ" (leisure, philosophy), and also refers to a traditional Galician musical gathering (folk songs and dances). | |||
| German | schule | ||
| The word 'Schule' in German can also refer to the 'school' of a fish or a group of people with the same interests. | |||
| Icelandic | skóla | ||
| In Icelandic, the word "skóla" also means a "group of people". Icelandic "skólar" were originally groups of young people and adults who would come together to learn a specific subject or practice a certain activity. | |||
| Irish | scoil | ||
| The word "scoil" is derived from the Primitive Irish " scol " meaning "scholar" and is cognate with the Middle Welsh "ysgol" meaning "a school or college". | |||
| Italian | scuola | ||
| "Scuola" (school) derives from the Greek word "schola" meaning leisure, later extended to mean "study", and ultimately a place of instruction. | |||
| Luxembourgish | schoul | ||
| "Schoul" is the Luxembourgish word for "school," derived from the Latin "schola," also meaning "leisure" or "free time." | |||
| Maltese | l-iskola | ||
| The Maltese word "l-iskola" derives from the Sicilian "scola", ultimately coming from the Latin "schola" or Greek "σχολή" (scholē), meaning "leisure", "education", or "place of learning". | |||
| Norwegian | skole | ||
| The word "skole" comes from the Old Norse word "skóli" meaning a gathering or assembly. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | escola | ||
| The word "escola" comes from the Latin "schola," which originally referred to a place of leisure and philosophical discussion in ancient Greece. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | sgoil | ||
| The Gaelic word "sgoil" (school) originally meant "shelter" or "retreat". | |||
| Spanish | colegio | ||
| The word "colegio" originally referred to a group of priests or scholars, and only later came to mean "school". | |||
| Swedish | skola | ||
| "Skola" derives from Greek "skholē" (leisure), where students were free from other duties to pursue knowledge. | |||
| Welsh | ysgol | ||
| The word "ysgol" is derived from the Latin "schola", meaning "leisure" or "discussion". | |||
School in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | школа | ||
| The word "школа" ultimately derives from the Greek word "σχολή" (scholē), meaning "leisure," "free time," or "study." | |||
| Bosnian | škola | ||
| "Škola" is cognate to the Latin word "schola" which meant "leisure" and "discourse". | |||
| Bulgarian | училище | ||
| The word 'училище' in Bulgarian can also refer to a particular institution or type of educational establishment. | |||
| Czech | škola | ||
| The word "škola" originally meant "leisure time" or "idle talk" in Old Czech, and only later came to mean "school". | |||
| Estonian | kool | ||
| The Estonian word "kool" is cognate to the Latin "schola" and English "school", all derived from the Greek word "skholē", meaning "leisure" or "free time". | |||
| Finnish | koulu | ||
| The Finnish word 'koulu' may have derived from Old Norse and originally meant a 'cattle shed' or 'animal enclosure'. | |||
| Hungarian | iskola | ||
| In Hungarian, the word "iskola" not only means "school," but also "workshop" or "studio," reflecting the traditional view of education as a place for practical learning and skill development. | |||
| Latvian | skolā | ||
| "Skola" is derived from the Latin word "schola" (which means "leisure", "discourse" or "instruction.") | |||
| Lithuanian | mokykloje | ||
| The word "mokykla" originates from the Proto-Indo-European root "*mek- " ( | |||
| Macedonian | училиште | ||
| The word "училиште" ultimately derives from the Greek word "σχολή" (scholē), meaning "leisure" or "free time", and originally referred to a place where philosophers and other intellectuals gathered to discuss and teach. | |||
| Polish | szkoła | ||
| Deriving from Old Polish _szkoła_ (1448), the word _szkoła_ comes from the same _schola_, _σχολή_ from where we get English _school_ and derives from Proto-Indo-European root *sekw- "to follow". | |||
| Romanian | şcoală | ||
| The Romanian word "școală" derives from the Slavic "škola", ultimately from the Greek "skholē", meaning "leisure" or "place of leisure". | |||
| Russian | школа | ||
| The Russian word "школа" comes from the Greek word "σχολή" which means "leisure, a place for discussion or lecture". | |||
| Serbian | школа | ||
| The word 'школа' can also refer to a specific educational institution or a particular course of study. | |||
| Slovak | škola | ||
| The Slovak word "škola" is also used to refer to a school building or the institution itself, rather than just the lessons or education provided within. | |||
| Slovenian | šola | ||
| The word 'šola' originally meant 'leisure' or 'free time', and only later came to mean 'school'. | |||
| Ukrainian | школу | ||
| The Ukrainian word "школа" originally referred to a time of leisure or learning, and is related to the Latin "schola" meaning "leisure" or "free time." | |||
School in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | বিদ্যালয় | ||
| Gujarati | શાળા | ||
| The word "શાળા" is derived from the Sanskrit word "शाळा" (śālā), which means "hall", "house", or "room". | |||
| Hindi | स्कूल | ||
| The word 'स्कूल' can also mean a 'group' or a 'set' of people. | |||
| Kannada | ಶಾಲೆ | ||
| The word "ಶಾಲೆ" (school) comes from the Sanskrit word "शाला" (śālā), which means "hall" or "meeting place". | |||
| Malayalam | സ്കൂൾ | ||
| The term 'school' (സ്കൂൾ) may refer to various types of educational institutions, from pre-primary to post-secondary levels. | |||
| Marathi | शाळा | ||
| The word 'शाळा' ('school') also means 'a hall for any public or religious assembly'. | |||
| Nepali | स्कूल | ||
| The Sanskrit root 'shishya', meaning 'student', and 'kula' (meaning family) form the word 'शाला', which is etymologically linked and has a similar meaning to the English 'school'. | |||
| Punjabi | ਵਿਦਿਆਲਾ | ||
| The word "ਵਿਦਿਆਲਾ" is derived from Sanskrit and means "a place of learning or a house of knowledge". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පාසලේ | ||
| පාසලේ shares its etymology with the Sanskrit word "पाठशाला" (pāṭhaśālā), which itself means "place of learning". | |||
| Tamil | பள்ளி | ||
| The word "பள்ளி" (paḷḷi) also means "bed" in Tamil, reflecting the tradition of students sleeping in the school building. | |||
| Telugu | పాఠశాల | ||
| The word "పాఠశాల" (school) in Telugu is derived from the Sanskrit word "पाठशाला" (pāṭhaśālā), meaning "a place of learning". | |||
| Urdu | اسکول | ||
| The word 'اسکول' in Urdu, besides 'school', also refers to a 'group of children studying with a particular teacher'. | |||
School in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 学校 | ||
| 学校, originating from the Warring States period, originally meant "to teach and study". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 學校 | ||
| The word "學校" (xuéxiào) in Chinese originated from the ancient terms "xué" (learning) and "xiào" (cultivation). | |||
| Japanese | 学校 | ||
| "学校 (gakkō)" literally translates as "a place of study" and can refer to any type of educational institution, from primary school to university. | |||
| Korean | 학교 | ||
| The word "학교" is derived from the Chinese word "校", meaning "a place of learning" or "a place where people gather to study." | |||
| Mongolian | сургууль | ||
| The word "сургууль" originally meant "studying" or "a place of study" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကျောင်း | ||
| The Burmese word ကျောင်း, which means school, can also refer to monasteries where monks live and study. | |||
School in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | sekolah | ||
| The word 'sekolah' comes from the Sanskrit word 'shālā', which means 'place of study'. | |||
| Javanese | sekolah | ||
| **Etymology:** From Javanese _seko_ (learn) and _olah_ (practice) | |||
| Khmer | សាលា | ||
| Khmer word "សាលា" has Sanskrit origins, and shares etymology with the word "shala" meaning "hall", "dwelling" and "temple" in Indic languages, while "សាលា" is used only for the meaning “school” in Khmer language. | |||
| Lao | ໂຮງຮຽນ | ||
| "ໂຮງเรียน" has multiple meanings, including "house of science", "house of knowledge", and "house of study". | |||
| Malay | sekolah | ||
| The word 'sekolah' may have originated from the Sanskrit word 'shala', meaning 'hall' or 'lecture hall'. | |||
| Thai | โรงเรียน | ||
| The word โรงเรียน (โรงเรียน) is derived from the Sanskrit word विद्यालय (vidyāla), meaning 'a place of learning'. | |||
| Vietnamese | trường học | ||
| "Trường học" also means "farm" in Sino-Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | paaralan | ||
School in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | məktəb | ||
| In some contexts "məktəb" can mean "letter". | |||
| Kazakh | мектеп | ||
| The word "мектеп" comes from the Arabic word "maktub", which means "to write". | |||
| Kyrgyz | мектеп | ||
| The word "мектеп" is thought to derive from the Persian word "maktab", which refers to a small elementary school or a session of religious instruction. | |||
| Tajik | мактаб | ||
| The word "мактаб" is derived from the Persian word "maktab" and Arabic word "mekteb". It also refers to a specific type of traditional Islamic school. | |||
| Turkmen | mekdebi | ||
| Uzbek | maktab | ||
| The Uzbek word "maktab" is derived from the Arabic word "maktab", which literally means "place of writing" or "place of study." | |||
| Uyghur | مەكتەپ | ||
School in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kula | ||
| The word "kula" in Hawaiian can also refer to a place of worship or a family gathering space. | |||
| Maori | kura | ||
| "Kura" also refers to a storehouse for food, knowledge, or other treasures. | |||
| Samoan | aoga | ||
| The term 'aoga' can also refer to a meeting place or a place of assembly. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | paaralan | ||
| "Paaralan" is derived from the root word "aral," meaning "to study" or "to learn." | |||
School in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | yatiqañ uta | ||
| Guarani | mitãrusumbo'ehao | ||
School in International Languages
| Esperanto | lernejo | ||
| The Esperanto word "lernejo" comes from "lernen," meaning "to learn" in German, and also refers to a place of learning. | |||
| Latin | scholae | ||
School in Others Languages
| Greek | σχολείο | ||
| Σχολείο derives from the word "σχολή", which originally meant "leisure" or "free time". | |||
| Hmong | tsev kawm ntawv | ||
| Tsev kawm ntawv, meaning "book learning house," can also refer to a library or a specific class in a school. | |||
| Kurdish | dibistan | ||
| The word “dibistan” is derived from Old Persian “dīpastāna,” meaning a “storehouse for records.” | |||
| Turkish | okul | ||
| The word "okul" is derived from the Turkic word "ok" meaning "arrow" and refers to the place where young people were taught archery and other skills. | |||
| Xhosa | isikolo | ||
| In Xhosa, the term "isikolo" not only refers to an educational institution but also carries the broader meaning of "gathering place" or "meeting point within a community." | |||
| Yiddish | שולע | ||
| "שולע" in Yiddish can also mean "a brawl" or "a group of rogues or ruffians". | |||
| Zulu | isikole | ||
| The Zulu word "isikole" is derived from the Old Norse word "skóli" meaning "place of leisure, relaxation and gossip" | |||
| Assamese | বিদ্যালয় | ||
| Aymara | yatiqañ uta | ||
| Bhojpuri | स्कूल | ||
| Dhivehi | ސްކޫލް | ||
| Dogri | स्कूल | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | paaralan | ||
| Guarani | mitãrusumbo'ehao | ||
| Ilocano | eskuwelaan | ||
| Krio | skul | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | قوتابخانە | ||
| Maithili | विद्यालय | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯍꯩ ꯇꯝꯐꯝꯁꯪ | ||
| Mizo | sikul | ||
| Oromo | mana barumsaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ | ||
| Quechua | yachay wasi | ||
| Sanskrit | विद्यालयः | ||
| Tatar | мәктәп | ||
| Tigrinya | ቤት ትምህርቲ | ||
| Tsonga | xikolo | ||