🏫 Classrooms

⏱ 15 min read

In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for talking about the classroom, lessons, teachers and students, classroom activities, asking questions, and understanding instructions at school. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Classroom Vocabulary

🏫 Classroom
the room where students learn
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Aula / Salón de clases
🇫🇷 French: Salle de classe
🇩🇪 German: Klassenzimmer
🇮🇹 Italian: Aula
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sala de aula
👩‍🏫 Teacher
the person who teaches the class
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Profesor / Profesora
🇫🇷 French: Professeur / Enseignant
🇩🇪 German: Lehrer / Lehrerin
🇮🇹 Italian: Insegnante / Professore
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Professor / Professora
🧑‍🎓 Student
a person who is learning in class
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estudiante
🇫🇷 French: Élève / Étudiant
🇩🇪 German: Schüler / Student
🇮🇹 Italian: Studente / Alunno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aluno / Estudante
📖 Lesson
one period of teaching on a topic
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lección
🇫🇷 French: Leçon
🇩🇪 German: Lektion / Stunde
🇮🇹 Italian: Lezione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lição / Aula
📚 Class / Course
a group of students or a series of lessons
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Clase
🇫🇷 French: Cours
🇩🇪 German: Unterricht / Kurs
🇮🇹 Italian: Classe / Corso
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aula / Curso
🪑 Desk
the table where a student sits and works
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pupitre
🇫🇷 French: Bureau / Pupitre
🇩🇪 German: Schreibtisch / Pult
🇮🇹 Italian: Banco / Scrivania
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Carteira / Mesa

🟡 Classroom Learning Vocabulary

📝 Homework
school work you do at home
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tarea
🇫🇷 French: Devoirs
🇩🇪 German: Hausaufgaben
🇮🇹 Italian: Compiti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trabalho de casa
📋 Test / Exam
a written or spoken check of what you know
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Examen
🇫🇷 French: Examen / Contrôle
🇩🇪 German: Prüfung / Test
🇮🇹 Italian: Esame / Verifica
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Exame / Teste
❓ Question
something you ask when you want information
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pregunta
🇫🇷 French: Question
🇩🇪 German: Frage
🇮🇹 Italian: Domanda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pergunta
💬 Answer
what you say or write after a question
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Respuesta
🇫🇷 French: Réponse
🇩🇪 German: Antwort
🇮🇹 Italian: Risposta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Resposta
📖 Exercise
a practice task in a book or worksheet
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ejercicio
🇫🇷 French: Exercice
🇩🇪 German: Übung
🇮🇹 Italian: Esercizio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Exercício
📅 Schedule
a list of class times during the week
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Horario
🇫🇷 French: Emploi du temps
🇩🇪 German: Stundenplan
🇮🇹 Italian: Orario
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Horário

🔵 Classroom Actions

👂 To listen
to pay attention to what someone is saying
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Escuchar
🇫🇷 French: Écouter
🇩🇪 German: Zuhören
🇮🇹 Italian: Ascoltare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ouvir / Escutar
📖 To read
to look at words and understand them
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Leer
🇫🇷 French: Lire
🇩🇪 German: Lesen
🇮🇹 Italian: Leggere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ler
✍️ To write
to put words on paper or a screen
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Escribir
🇫🇷 French: Écrire
🇩🇪 German: Schreiben
🇮🇹 Italian: Scrivere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Escrever
🙋 To ask
to say a question
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Preguntar
🇫🇷 French: Demander
🇩🇪 German: Fragen
🇮🇹 Italian: Chiedere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Perguntar
💬 To answer
to give a reply to a question
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Responder
🇫🇷 French: Répondre
🇩🇪 German: Antworten
🇮🇹 Italian: Rispondere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Responder
🧠 To understand
to know the meaning of something
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Entender
🇫🇷 French: Comprendre
🇩🇪 German: Verstehen
🇮🇹 Italian: Capire
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Entender / Compreender

🧠 Talking About Classroom Activities

💡 Use have to + verb to talk about something you must do in class.
We have to read chapter five.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tenemos que leer el capítulo cinco.
🇫🇷 Nous devons lire le chapitre cinq.
🇩🇪 Wir müssen Kapitel fünf lesen.
🇮🇹 Dobbiamo leggere il capitolo cinque.
🇵🇹 Temos de ler o capítulo cinco.
I have to finish the homework tonight.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo que terminar la tarea esta noche.
🇫🇷 Je dois finir les devoirs ce soir.
🇩🇪 Ich muss die Hausaufgaben heute Abend beenden.
🇮🇹 Devo finire i compiti stasera.
🇵🇹 Tenho de terminar o trabalho de casa esta noite.
💡 Use can to ask permission or whether something is possible.
Can I ask a question?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Puedo hacer una pregunta?
🇫🇷 Puis-je poser une question ?
🇩🇪 Kann ich eine Frage stellen?
🇮🇹 Posso fare una domanda?
🇵🇹 Posso fazer uma pergunta?
Can you repeat that, please?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
🇫🇷 Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
🇩🇪 Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
🇮🇹 Può ripetere, per favore?
🇵🇹 Pode repetir, por favor?
💡 Use understand when talking about whether you understand something.
I don't understand this part of the lesson.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 No entiendo esta parte de la lección.
🇫🇷 Je ne comprends pas cette partie de la leçon.
🇩🇪 Ich verstehe diesen Teil der Lektion nicht.
🇮🇹 Non capisco questa parte della lezione.
🇵🇹 Não entendo esta parte da lição.
Now I understand the explanation.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Ahora entiendo la explicación.
🇫🇷 Maintenant je comprends l'explication.
🇩🇪 Jetzt verstehe ich die Erklärung.
🇮🇹 Ora capisco la spiegazione.
🇵🇹 Agora entendo a explicação.

❓ Useful Classroom Questions

🙋 Can I ask a question?
asking permission to speak
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Puedo hacer una pregunta?
🇫🇷 French: Puis-je poser une question ?
🇩🇪 German: Kann ich eine Frage stellen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Posso fare una domanda?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Posso fazer uma pergunta?
🔄 Can you repeat that, please?
asking someone to say it again
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
🇫🇷 French: Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
🇩🇪 German: Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Può ripetere, per favore?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pode repetir, por favor?
📖 What page do we have to read?
asking which page is required
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué página tenemos que leer?
🇫🇷 French: Quelle page devons-nous lire ?
🇩🇪 German: Welche Seite müssen wir lesen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quale pagina dobbiamo leggere?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Que página temos de ler?
📝 Do we have homework for tomorrow?
asking if there is work due the next day
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Tenemos tarea para mañana?
🇫🇷 French: Avons-nous des devoirs pour demain ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben wir Hausaufgaben für morgen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo compiti per domani?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Temos trabalho de casa para amanhã?
📋 When is the exam?
asking the date of the test
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuándo es el examen?
🇫🇷 French: Quand est l'examen ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann ist die Prüfung?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quando è l'esame?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quando é o exame?
❓ What does this word mean?
asking for the meaning of a word
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué significa esta palabra?
🇫🇷 French: Que signifie ce mot ?
🇩🇪 German: Was bedeutet dieses Wort?
🇮🇹 Italian: Cosa significa questa parola?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O que significa esta palavra?

💬 Common Classroom Phrases

🙋 I don't understand this part. Can you explain it again?
you need the teacher to say it once more
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: No entiendo esta parte. ¿Puede explicarla otra vez?
🇫🇷 French: Je ne comprends pas cette partie. Pouvez-vous l'expliquer encore une fois ?
🇩🇪 German: Ich verstehe diesen Teil nicht. Können Sie ihn noch einmal erklären?
🇮🇹 Italian: Non capisco questa parte. Può spiegarla di nuovo?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Não entendo esta parte. Pode explicá-la outra vez?
📝 We have to turn in the homework before Friday.
the work must be given to the teacher by Friday
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tenemos que entregar la tarea antes del viernes.
🇫🇷 French: Nous devons rendre les devoirs avant vendredi.
🇩🇪 German: Wir müssen die Hausaufgaben vor Freitag abgeben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Dobbiamo consegnare i compiti prima di venerdì.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Temos de entregar o trabalho de casa antes de sexta-feira.
📖 The teacher asked us to read the next chapter.
the teacher told the class to read the following chapter
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La profesora nos pidió que leyéramos el siguiente capítulo.
🇫🇷 French: La professeure nous a demandé de lire le chapitre suivant.
🇩🇪 German: Die Lehrerin hat uns gebeten, das nächste Kapitel zu lesen.
🇮🇹 Italian: L'insegnante ci ha chiesto di leggere il capitolo successivo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A professora pediu-nos para lermos o próximo capítulo.
📋 We have an exam at the end of the week.
there is a test later this week
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tenemos un examen al final de la semana.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons un examen à la fin de la semaine.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben am Ende der Woche eine Prüfung.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo un esame alla fine della settimana.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Temos um exame no final da semana.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Asking for clarification
telling the teacher you need another explanation
A: Excuse me, teacher. I don't understand this part of the exercise.
B: Of course. I'm going to explain it again.
A: Thank you. Now I understand it better.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Disculpe, profesora. No entiendo esta parte del ejercicio.
🇪🇸 B: Claro. Voy a explicarla otra vez.
🇪🇸 A: Gracias. Ahora lo entiendo mejor.

🇫🇷 A: Excusez-moi, madame. Je ne comprends pas cette partie de l'exercice.
🇫🇷 B: Bien sûr. Je vais l'expliquer encore une fois.
🇫🇷 A: Merci. Maintenant je le comprends mieux.

🇩🇪 A: Entschuldigung, Frau Lehrerin. Ich verstehe diesen Teil der Übung nicht.
🇩🇪 B: Natürlich. Ich erkläre ihn noch einmal.
🇩🇪 A: Danke. Jetzt verstehe ich ihn besser.

🇮🇹 A: Scusi, professoressa. Non capisco questa parte dell'esercizio.
🇮🇹 B: Certo. La spiego di nuovo.
🇮🇹 A: Grazie. Ora la capisco meglio.

🇵🇹 A: Com licença, professora. Não entendo esta parte do exercício.
🇵🇹 B: Claro. Vou explicá-la outra vez.
🇵🇹 A: Obrigado. Agora entendo melhor.
Asking about homework
checking what work is due and when to turn it in
A: Do we have homework for tomorrow?
B: Yes. We have to finish the exercises on page twenty.
A: Do we have to turn them in tomorrow?
B: Yes, at the beginning of class.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Tenemos tarea para mañana?
🇪🇸 B: Sí. Tenemos que terminar los ejercicios de la página veinte.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Tenemos que entregarlos mañana?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, al principio de la clase.

🇫🇷 A: Avons-nous des devoirs pour demain ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui. Nous devons terminer les exercices de la page vingt.
🇫🇷 A: Devons-nous les rendre demain ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, au début du cours.

🇩🇪 A: Haben wir Hausaufgaben für morgen?
🇩🇪 B: Ja. Wir müssen die Übungen auf Seite zwanzig beenden.
🇩🇪 A: Müssen wir sie morgen abgeben?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, am Anfang des Unterrichts.

🇮🇹 A: Abbiamo compiti per domani?
🇮🇹 B: Sì. Dobbiamo finire gli esercizi a pagina venti.
🇮🇹 A: Dobbiamo consegnarli domani?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, all'inizio della lezione.

🇵🇹 A: Temos trabalho de casa para amanhã?
🇵🇹 B: Sim. Temos de terminar os exercícios da página vinte.
🇵🇹 A: Temos de entregá-los amanhã?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, no início da aula.

📝 Example Sentences

👩‍🏫 The teacher explained the lesson and then answered the students' questions.
first came the explanation, then the questions
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La profesora explicó la lección y después respondió a las preguntas de los estudiantes.
🇫🇷 French: La professeure a expliqué la leçon et a ensuite répondu aux questions des élèves.
🇩🇪 German: Die Lehrerin hat die Lektion erklärt und dann die Fragen der Schüler beantwortet.
🇮🇹 Italian: L'insegnante ha spiegato la lezione e poi ha risposto alle domande degli studenti.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A professora explicou a lição e depois respondeu às perguntas dos alunos.
🧑‍🎓 The students listened carefully while the teacher explained the exercise.
the class paid close attention during the explanation
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Los estudiantes escucharon con atención mientras el profesor explicaba el ejercicio.
🇫🇷 French: Les élèves ont écouté attentivement pendant que le professeur expliquait l'exercice.
🇩🇪 German: Die Schüler haben aufmerksam zugehört, während der Lehrer die Übung erklärt hat.
🇮🇹 Italian: Gli studenti hanno ascoltato con attenzione mentre l'insegnante spiegava l'esercizio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os alunos ouviram com atenção enquanto o professor explicava o exercício.
📋 We have an important exam next week, so I need to study.
a big test is coming, so you must prepare
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tenemos un examen importante la próxima semana, así que necesito estudiar.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons un examen important la semaine prochaine, donc je dois étudier.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben nächste Woche eine wichtige Prüfung, also muss ich lernen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo un esame importante la prossima settimana, quindi devo studiare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Temos um exame importante na próxima semana, por isso preciso de estudar.
🙋 I asked the teacher a question because I didn't understand part of the lesson.
you asked for help with a part that was unclear
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Le hice una pregunta al profesor porque no entendía una parte de la lección.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai posé une question au professeur parce que je ne comprenais pas une partie de la leçon.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe dem Lehrer eine Frage gestellt, weil ich einen Teil der Lektion nicht verstanden habe.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho fatto una domanda all'insegnante perché non capivo una parte della lezione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fiz uma pergunta ao professor porque não entendia uma parte da lição.
📖 During class, we read a text and then talked about the main ideas.
the class read first, then discussed the important points
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Durante la clase, leímos un texto y después hablamos sobre las ideas principales.
🇫🇷 French: Pendant le cours, nous avons lu un texte et ensuite discuté des idées principales.
🇩🇪 German: Während des Unterrichts haben wir einen Text gelesen und dann über die Hauptgedanken gesprochen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Durante la lezione abbiamo letto un testo e poi abbiamo parlato delle idee principali.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Durante a aula, lemos um texto e depois falámos sobre as ideias principais.
📝 Before leaving the classroom, the teacher reminded us that we had homework.
the teacher told the class again about the homework
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Antes de salir del aula, la profesora nos recordó que teníamos tarea.
🇫🇷 French: Avant de quitter la salle, la professeure nous a rappelé que nous avions des devoirs.
🇩🇪 German: Bevor wir das Klassenzimmer verlassen haben, hat die Lehrerin uns daran erinnert, dass wir Hausaufgaben hatten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Prima di uscire dall'aula, l'insegnante ci ha ricordato che avevamo i compiti.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Antes de sairmos da sala, a professora lembrou-nos de que tínhamos trabalho de casa.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the best word or phrase from the lesson.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%