FluenDay Blog – Learn languages

As the back-to-school season approaches, students, teachers, and parents alike are gearing up for a fresh start. Whether it’s stocking up on supplies, setting new goals, or simply getting back into the rhythm of school life, this time of year is always filled with excitement and anticipation. For those of us learning new languages, it’s also the perfect chance to expand our vocabulary and pick up some useful idioms to start the school year with even more confidence.

In this blog, we’ll explore essential school-related words and phrases, along with some fun idioms in Spanish, French, and German. These expressions are sure to come in handy, so let’s jump right in!

General School Vocabulary

Let’s start with the words you’ll likely hear every day at school. These terms are the foundation of your school-related vocabulary.

• School
  • Spanish: Escuela
  • French: École
  • German: Schule
• Classroom
  • Spanish: Aula
  • French: Salle de classe
  • German: Klassenzimmer
• Teacher
  • Spanish: Maestro/Maestra
  • French: Enseignant/Enseignante
  • German: Lehrer/Lehrerin
• Student
  • Spanish: Estudiante
  • French: Étudiant/Étudiante
  • German: Schüler/Schülerin
• Lesson
  • Spanish: Lección
  • French: Leçon
  • German: Unterricht
• To teach someone a lesson
  • Spanish: Dar una lección
  • French: Donner une leçon
  • German: Jemandem eine Lektion erteilen

Subjects and Activities

Next up, let’s explore some academic subjects and activities that are central to school life. These are words you’ll definitely find yourself using every day at school.

• Math
  • Spanish: Matemáticas
  • French: Mathématiques
  • German: Mathematik
• Science
  • Spanish: Ciencias
  • French: Sciences
  • German: Naturwissenschaften
• History
  • Spanish: Historia
  • French: Histoire
  • German: Geschichte
• Language Arts
  • Spanish: Lengua y Literatura
  • French: Arts du langage
  • German: Sprachunterricht
• Physical Education
  • Spanish: Educación Física
  • French: Éducation Physique
  • German: Sportunterricht
• Hit the books
  • Spanish: Empollar
  • French: Se mettre à étudier
  • German: Sich auf die Bücher stürzen

School Supplies

No back-to-school list would be complete without the essential supplies that students need. From notebooks to backpacks, these are the items that keep us organized and ready for learning.

• Notebook
  • Spanish: Cuaderno
  • French: Cahier
  • German: Heft
• Pencil
  • Spanish: Lápiz
  • French: Crayon
  • German: Bleistift
• Backpack
  • Spanish: Mochila
  • French: Sac à dos
  • German: Rucksack
• Ruler
  • Spanish: Regla
  • French: Règle
  • German: Lineal
• Calculator
  • Spanish: Calculadora
  • French: Calculatrice
  • German: Taschenrechner
• Idiomatic Expression:
  • “Back to the drawing board”
  • Spanish: Volver al punto de partida
  • French: Retour à la case départ
  • German: Zurück auf Anfang

School Activities and Events

School is also about the activities and events that make the experience memorable. Can you recall any special memories related to the following events?

• Field Trip
  • Spanish: Excursión
  • French: Sortie scolaire
  • German: Schulausflug
• Recess
  • Spanish: Recreo
  • French: Récréation
  • German: Pause
• Homework
  • Spanish: Tarea
  • French: Devoirs
  • German: Hausaufgaben
• Exam
  • Spanish: Examen
  • French: Examen
  • German: Prüfung
• Graduation
  • Spanish: Graduación
  • French: Remise des diplômes
  • German: Abschlussfeier
• Ace a test
  • Spanish: Sacar un diez
  • French: Réussir un examen haut la main
  • German: Eine Prüfung mit Bravour bestehen

School Roles and Places

What’s the most memorable place at school that comes to your mind? Do you know how to say that place in Spanish, French, or German? Check out the words below:

• Principal
  • Spanish: Director/Directora
  • French: Directeur/Directrice
  • German: Direktor/Direktorin
• Cafeteria
  • Spanish: Cafetería
  • French: Cantine
  • German: Kantine
• Library
  • Spanish: Biblioteca
  • French: Bibliothèque
  • German: Bibliothek
• Counselor
  • Spanish: Consejero/Consejera
  • French: Conseiller/Conseillère
  • German: Berater/Beraterin
• Janitor
  • Spanish: Conserje
  • French: Concierge
  • German: Hausmeister/Hausmeisterin
• To be a bookworm
  • Spanish: Ser un ratón de biblioteca
  • French: Être un rat de bibliothèque
  • German: Ein Bücherwurm sein

Other School-Related Idioms and Expressions

To round things out, let’s look at some idioms and expressions that are often used in a school context. These phrases are not only fun but also enrich your understanding of the language.

• “Learn the hard way”
  • Spanish: Aprender por las malas
  • French: Apprendre à ses dépens
  • German: Auf die harte Tour lernen
• “To pass with flying colors”
  • Spanish: Pasar con sobresaliente
  • French: Réussir haut la main
  • German: Mit Bravour bestehen
• “To cram for an exam”
  • Spanish: Empollar para un examen
  • French: Bachoter
  • German: Für eine Prüfung büffeln
• “To be a teacher’s pet”
  • Spanish: Ser el/la favorito/a del profesor
  • French: Être le chouchou du professeur
  • German: Des Lehrers Liebling sein
• “School of hard knocks”
  • Spanish: La escuela de la vida
  • French: L’école de la vie
  • German: Die Schule des Lebens

Mastering these essential school-related words and idioms in Spanish, French, and German is a great way to prepare for the new school year or reminisce about your own school days.

If you want to explore more words and idioms, check out the FluenDay app! It offers a variety of school-related vocabulary and expressions in Spanish, French, and German. With the new school year upon us, why not start learning a new language with us? Download the app for free by clicking here: