In 15 Seconds
- Means 'through the school' or 'via the school system'.
- Used for communication, paperwork, or meeting people.
- Common in family life and administrative contexts.
Meaning
This phrase describes doing something through the school system or using the school as a medium for communication, paperwork, or social connections.
Key Examples
3 of 6Explaining how you got a document
J'ai reçu le formulaire par l'école.
I received the form through the school.
Telling a friend how you met someone
On s'est rencontrés par l'école des enfants.
We met through the kids' school.
Formal instruction from a teacher
L'inscription se fait uniquement par l'école.
Registration is done only through the school.
Cultural Background
Schools are central to local life.
Use it for logistics
Whenever you are talking about how you got a document or message, use this.
In 15 Seconds
- Means 'through the school' or 'via the school system'.
- Used for communication, paperwork, or meeting people.
- Common in family life and administrative contexts.
What It Means
Think of par l'école (the grammatically correct version of your phrase) as a channel. It’s like saying 'via the school.' You aren't just talking about a building. You are talking about the whole system. It’s the bridge between your home and the community. If you get a letter, a friend, or a bill through that system, you got it par l'école.
How To Use It
You use this when the school is the middleman. It usually follows verbs of movement or communication. Use it with passer (to pass), recevoir (to receive), or connaître (to know). For example, if you met a neighbor because your kids are in the same class, you met par l'école. It’s simple, direct, and very common in daily life. Just remember to use l'école for one school or les écoles for many.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing administrative tasks. It’s perfect for parent-teacher talk. Use it when explaining how you heard some local gossip. It’s also great for describing extracurricular activities. If your child does soccer through a school program, that’s par l'école. Use it in emails to teachers or when chatting with other parents at the park. It’s a workhorse phrase for anyone with kids.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for physical location. If you are standing in front of the building, say devant l'école. If you are inside, say à l'école. Par implies a process or a route, not a fixed spot. Also, don't use it for university usually. For higher education, we say par la fac. Using it for a job interview might sound a bit childish unless it's a school-based internship.
Cultural Background
In France, the school is the 'heart of the Republic.' It is a sacred secular space. Most social life for families revolves around the school gates. There is even a specific time called la sortie des classes where parents gather. Because the state manages schools tightly, 'the school' feels like a single, unified entity. When you say something happened par l'école, every French person knows exactly the kind of paperwork and 'carnet de correspondance' you’re talking about.
Common Variations
You will mostly hear par l'école (singular). If you are talking about a district-wide policy, you might use par les écoles. Another common one is via l'école, which sounds a bit more modern or digital. If you want to be very formal, you might say par l'intermédiaire de l'établissement. But honestly? Stick to the simple version. It’s what the locals use while waiting for their kids with a baguette in hand.
Usage Notes
Always ensure the article matches the noun (l'école). It is a very safe, neutral phrase used by everyone from government officials to toddlers.
Use it for logistics
Whenever you are talking about how you got a document or message, use this.
Examples
6J'ai reçu le formulaire par l'école.
I received the form through the school.
Standard use for administrative paperwork.
On s'est rencontrés par l'école des enfants.
We met through the kids' school.
Common way to explain social connections.
L'inscription se fait uniquement par l'école.
Registration is done only through the school.
Setting a clear administrative rule.
Le sac est revenu par l'école aujourd'hui !
The bag came back through the school today!
Informal update about a situation.
Il apprend tous ses gros mots par l'école !
He learns all his swear words through school!
Lighthearted joke about school influence.
Le soutien est venu par l'école.
The support came through the school.
Showing the school as a community hub.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence.
Nous avons reçu l'invitation ____ les écoles.
We use 'par' to indicate the medium.
🎉 Score: /1
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
1 exercisesNous avons reçu l'invitation ____ les écoles.
We use 'par' to indicate the medium.
🎉 Score: /1
Frequently Asked Questions
1 questionsYes, but 'par l'école' is better.
Related Phrases
via l'école
similarthrough the school
