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A1 noun #400 mais comum 10 min de leitura

école

Top 400

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas école em 30 segundos

Explicação école in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'école' is one of the first nouns you learn. You should focus on its gender (feminine) and how to use it with basic verbs like 'aller' (to go) and 'être' (to be). You will learn to say 'Je vais à l'école' and 'L'école est grande'. At this stage, you are primarily using it to describe your daily routine or your children's activities. You should also recognize the difference between 'école' and 'maison'. The focus is on simple, concrete usage in the present tense. You will also learn the definite article 'l'école' and the indefinite article 'une école'. It's important to practice the pronunciation, especially the 'é' sound at the beginning and the silent 'e' at the end. You might also learn basic school-related vocabulary like 'professeur', 'livre', and 'élève' to use alongside 'école'.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'école' in more varied contexts, such as describing past experiences using the passé composé or future plans. You might say 'Je suis allé à l'école hier' or 'L'année prochaine, j'irai dans une nouvelle école'. You also start to use adjectives to describe schools, such as 'une école publique' or 'une école privée'. You will learn to talk about different types of schools, like 'école maternelle' and 'école primaire'. At this level, you should be comfortable using prepositions like 'devant l'école' (in front of the school) or 'derrière l'école' (behind the school). You are also introduced to the concept of 'la rentrée scolaire' (the back-to-school period), which is a major cultural event in France. You can participate in simple conversations about your school days or your favorite subjects.

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At the B1 level, you can discuss the role of school in society and express opinions about education. You might talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the French school system compared to your own. You will use more complex structures, such as 'Il est important que l'école soit accessible à tous' (subjunctive). You also start to encounter 'école' in idiomatic expressions like 'faire l'école buissonnière' (to skip school) or 'être de la vieille école' (to be old school). You can describe your 'parcours scolaire' (educational background) in detail during a job interview or a social gathering. Your vocabulary expands to include terms like 'la scolarité', 'les frais d'inscription', and 'le règlement intérieur'. You are capable of reading short articles about educational reforms and understanding the main points.

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At the B2 level, you can engage in nuanced debates about educational philosophy and policy. You might discuss the concept of 'laïcité' (secularism) in French schools and its historical importance. You can use 'école' metaphorically, such as 'l'école de la vie' or 'faire école' (to set a trend). You understand the distinction between 'instruction' and 'éducation' in a French context. You can follow complex news reports about 'la réforme du baccalauréat' or 'les inégalités à l'école'. Your writing becomes more sophisticated, allowing you to write essays on the purpose of school or the impact of technology in classrooms. You are familiar with the 'Grandes Écoles' system and its role in forming the French elite. You can use the word in formal administrative or academic registers without error.

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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the historical and sociological connotations of 'l'école' in France. You can analyze literary texts where the school serves as a central theme or setting (e.g., Pagnol or Vallès). You use the word fluently in abstract discussions about 'l'école de pensée' (school of thought) in philosophy, economics, or art. You can navigate the complex terminology of the French Ministry of National Education. Your use of idioms involving 'école' is natural and well-timed. You can critique the 'élitisme' of certain schools or the 'massification' of education with precision. You understand the subtle differences in register between 'école', 'établissement', and 'institution'. You can conduct research or give presentations in French on topics related to educational theory and history.

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of the word 'école' and its myriad associations. You can appreciate the wordplay and subtle allusions in high-level political rhetoric or classical literature. You can discuss the evolution of the word from its Latin roots (*schola*) to its modern usage. You are capable of writing professional-grade reports or academic papers on the 'système scolaire'. You can debate the finest points of educational pedagogy, such as the 'méthode globale' versus 'méthode syllabique' in 'l'école élémentaire'. You understand the cultural 'imaginaire' of the school in French cinema and art. Your mastery of the word is such that you can use it to convey irony, nostalgia, or authority. You are effectively an expert on the linguistic and cultural place of 'l'école' in the Francophone world.

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

école em 30 segundos

École means school and is a feminine noun in French.
It requires the definite article 'l'' because it starts with a vowel.
It primarily refers to primary education but has broad metaphorical uses.
It is a central pillar of French identity and republican values.

The French word école is a fundamental noun that every learner encounters early in their journey. At its most basic level, it translates to 'school' in English. However, in the French cultural and linguistic landscape, l'école carries a weight that transcends simple classroom walls. It represents the bedrock of the French Republic, governed by the principles of secularism (laïcité), neutrality, and equality. When a French person speaks of 'l'école', they might be referring to the physical building, the institution of education as a whole, or a specific period in a child's life. Unlike in some English-speaking contexts where 'school' might exclude university, in France, 'l'école' can sometimes be used broadly to describe various levels of education, though specific terms like collège or lycée are more common for secondary education.

Physical Location: Refers to the actual building where students gather to learn. Example: 'Le bâtiment de l'école est ancien.'

Abstract Institution: Refers to the system of education. Example: 'L'école est obligatoire jusqu'à seize ans.'

Les enfants marchent ensemble vers l'école chaque matin.

Historically, the concept of the French school was revolutionized by the Jules Ferry laws in the 1880s, which made primary education free, secular, and compulsory. This historical context is why you will often hear the phrase l'école de la République. It is seen as the place where future citizens are formed, not just where academic subjects are taught. In daily conversation, you use it to describe your routine, your children's activities, or even your professional life if you are a teacher. It is a feminine noun, which is crucial for grammar: we say une école or l'école. Because it starts with a vowel, the definite article la elides to l', making it l'école.

Metaphorical Use: Can refer to a group of people sharing the same style or philosophy, such as 'l'école impressionniste'.

Cette œuvre appartient à l'école classique du dix-septième siècle.

Furthermore, the word appears in numerous idiomatic expressions. For instance, faire l'école buissonnière means to play truant or skip school. This literally translates to 'doing the bush school', evoking the image of a child hiding in the bushes instead of attending class. Another common phrase is être de la vieille école, which corresponds to the English 'to be old school', referring to someone who adheres to traditional values or methods. Understanding these nuances helps you move beyond a simple dictionary definition and into the heart of how French speakers actually communicate.

Mon grand-père est de la vieille école ; il écrit toujours des lettres à la main.

Après l'école, nous allons souvent au parc pour jouer.

Il a appris la patience à l'école de la vie.

Using école correctly involves mastering its gender and the prepositions that accompany it. As a feminine noun starting with a vowel, it always takes l' as a definite article in the singular. In the plural, it becomes les écoles. When you want to say you are 'at school' or 'going to school', you use the preposition à followed by the article: à l'école. This is a common point of confusion for English speakers who might want to omit the article as they do in English ('at school'). In French, the article is almost always required.

Destination: To indicate where someone is going. Example: 'Je conduis les enfants à l'école.'

Location: To indicate where someone is currently. Example: 'Marie est à l'école en ce moment.'

Nous cherchons une bonne école pour notre fils.

When describing the type of school, you often use adjectives or the preposition de. For example, une école primaire (a primary school), une école de musique (a music school), or une école de commerce (a business school). Note that for higher education, France has a unique system of Grandes Écoles, which are prestigious specialized institutions separate from the standard university system. Using the word in this context implies a high level of academic rigor and social prestige.

Possession: Using possessive adjectives. Example: 'Mon école se trouve près de la mairie.'

L'école d'ingénieurs est très difficile à intégrer.

In more advanced usage, école can describe a philosophical or artistic movement. You might say, 'Il appartient à l'école de Francfort' (He belongs to the Frankfurt School). Here, the word functions as a collective noun for a set of ideas or a specific methodology. In literature, you might encounter 'faire école', which means to set a precedent or to start a new trend that others follow. This versatility makes école a powerful word to master as you progress from basic descriptions to complex intellectual discussions.

Son style unique a fini par faire école parmi les jeunes peintres.

Elle a quitté l'école à l'âge de dix-huit ans.

Les programmes de l'école changent cette année.

You will hear the word école everywhere in France, from the morning news to casual conversations at a café. In the mornings, parents frequently discuss le chemin de l'école (the way to school) or la sortie de l'école (the end of the school day). If you live near a school, you will hear the cloche de l'école (school bell) or the shouting of children in the cour de l'école (school playground). It is a word deeply embedded in the rhythm of daily life.

News and Media: Often used in debates about 'le budget de l'école' or 'la réforme de l'école'.

Social Life: Parents meeting at the gates often ask, 'Comment ça se passe à l'école ?'

Le ministre de l'Éducation a visité une école rurale hier.

In professional settings, particularly in HR or recruitment, you will hear people talk about their parcours d'école or which grande école they attended. This is a significant part of French professional identity. Furthermore, during the 'rentrée littéraire' or 'rentrée scolaire' in September, the word dominates the media. It marks the end of summer and the return to serious work and study for the entire nation. Even if you don't have children, the 'rentrée' affects traffic, store promotions, and the general mood of the country.

Pop Culture: Many French songs and movies focus on 'les souvenirs d'école'.

J'ai entendu à la radio que l'école sera fermée à cause de la neige.

You might also hear it in the context of adult learning, such as l'école de conduite (driving school) or une école de langue (language school). In these cases, it functions much like the English word, denoting a place of specialized instruction. However, the emotional resonance of 'l'école' in France is often tied to the republican values of 'Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité', making it a frequent topic in political discourse regarding social mobility and national identity.

C'est une école très réputée pour ses cours de cuisine.

Il y a une réunion de parents d'élèves à l'école ce soir.

On apprend beaucoup de choses à l'école, mais pas tout.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is the omission of the definite article. In English, we say 'I am at school', but in French, you must say Je suis à l'école. Omitting the l' makes the sentence sound incomplete and grammatically incorrect. Another common error is using the wrong gender. While école sounds like it could be masculine because it starts with a vowel, it is strictly feminine. This affects any adjectives that describe it: une petite école, not un petit école.

Article Omission: Mistake: 'Je vais à école.' Correct: 'Je vais à l'école.'

Gender Confusion: Mistake: 'Le nouveau école.' Correct: 'La nouvelle école.'

Faites attention : on dit une école publique, pas un école public.

Another nuance is the confusion between école and classe. While école refers to the institution or building, classe refers to the group of students or the specific room. If you say 'Je vais en classe', it implies you are going to the actual lesson, whereas 'Je vais à l'école' is more general. Furthermore, English speakers often use 'college' to mean university, but in French, collège specifically means middle school (ages 11-15). Using école to describe a university is possible but usually requires a qualifier like école supérieure or grande école.

Preposition Errors: Mistake: 'Dans l'école' (when meaning 'at school'). Correct: 'À l'école'. Use 'dans' only for physical containment.

Il n'est pas à l'école aujourd'hui car il est malade.

Lastly, don't confuse scolarité with école. Scolarité refers to the state of being a student or the tuition fees/process, whereas école is the place. For example, 'frais de scolarité' means school fees. Using école in that context would be incorrect. Understanding these distinctions will make your French sound much more natural and precise.

L'erreur commune est d'oublier l'article devant école.

Ma sœur travaille dans une école maternelle.

Les écoles de cette ville sont très modernes.

While école is the general term, French has many specific words for different levels and types of educational institutions. Choosing the right one depends on the age of the students and the nature of the study. For the youngest children (ages 3-6), we use école maternelle. For ages 6-11, it is école primaire or école élémentaire. These are the foundations of the French system.

Collège vs. Lycée: Collège is for ages 11-15; Lycée is for ages 15-18. Never use 'college' for university!

Établissement: A more formal, administrative term for any educational institution. Example: 'Cet établissement est fermé.'

Le lycée est la dernière étape avant l'université.

For higher education, you have l'université (often shortened to la fac in casual speech) and the Grandes Écoles. If you are talking about a vocational school, you might use centre de formation or lycée professionnel. In slang, students sometimes refer to their school as la boîte (literally 'the box'), though this is very informal and often used for private schools or specific workplaces. Another synonym in a more academic or poetic sense is le gymnase (used in some French-speaking countries like Switzerland for high school) or l'académie.

Comparison Table: École: General/Primary | Collège: Middle | Lycée: High School | Fac: University.

Elle étudie à la fac de droit cette année.

When comparing école to instruction or éducation, remember that école is the place, instruction is the knowledge gained, and éducation is the broader upbringing (including manners and morals). In French, 'il a une bonne éducation' usually means he has good manners, not necessarily that he went to a top school. This is a classic 'false friend' for English speakers. Using these terms correctly will demonstrate a high level of cultural and linguistic competence.

L'école de la vie est parfois plus dure que l'école primaire.

Il y a plusieurs écoles de pensée sur ce sujet complexe.

Mon établissement scolaire organise une fête samedi.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"L'établissement scolaire ouvrira ses portes à huit heures."

Neutro

"Je vais à l'école tous les matins."

Informal

"C'est une super école."

Child friendly

"On va à l'école pour voir les copains !"

Gíria

"J'en ai marre de la boîte."

Curiosidade

The transition from 'leisure' to 'school' reflects a time when only those with free time (the wealthy) could afford to spend it learning. Today, it is a universal right.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /e.kɔl/

US /e.kɔl/

In French, stress is usually on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In 'école', the stress is slightly on the 'kɔl'.

Rima com

bricole bestiole caracole console frivole parole symbole protocole

Erros comuns

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it should be silent).
Making the first 'é' sound like 'ee' in 'see'.
Adding a 'y' sound after the 'é' (like 'ay').
Pronouncing the 'l' too darkly (like in 'ball').
Failing to elide the article (saying 'la école' instead of 'l'école').

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 1/5

Very easy to recognize as it is similar to 'school' and 'escuela'.

Escrita 2/5

The accent 'é' and the silent 'e' require some attention.

Expressão oral 2/5

The 'é' sound and the liaison in 'les écoles' can be tricky for beginners.

Audição 1/5

Distinctive sound, usually easy to pick out in a sentence.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

enfant apprendre livre maître maison

Aprenda a seguir

collège lycée université élève étudiant

Avançado

pédagogie didactique académique scolarité laïcité

Gramática essencial

Elision with 'l''

On dit 'l'école', pas 'la école'.

Gender of nouns ending in -e

Bien que finissant par -e, 'école' est féminin.

Preposition 'à' with places

Je vais à l'école (destination).

Liaison with plural articles

Les écoles se prononce /le-zekol/.

Possessive adjectives with vowels

On dit 'mon école' (pas 'ma') car il commence par une voyelle.

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Exemplos por nível

Je vais à l'école.

I am going to school.

Uses the preposition 'à' + definite article 'l''.

L'école est grande.

The school is big.

Adjective 'grande' agrees with the feminine noun 'école'.

Où est l'école ?

Where is the school?

Simple question structure with 'où'.

C'est une école.

It is a school.

Uses the indefinite feminine article 'une'.

J'aime mon école.

I like my school.

Uses 'mon' instead of 'ma' because 'école' starts with a vowel.

L'école commence à huit heures.

School starts at eight o'clock.

Present tense of 'commencer'.

Il y a des livres à l'école.

There are books at school.

Uses 'il y a' for existence.

Ma mère travaille à l'école.

My mother works at the school.

Preposition 'à' indicates location.

Hier, je suis allé à l'école en bus.

Yesterday, I went to school by bus.

Passé composé with 'être'.

Mon école primaire était très petite.

My primary school was very small.

Imparfait for description.

Nous avons une réunion à l'école ce soir.

We have a meeting at school tonight.

Noun 'réunion' with location.

Il ne veut pas aller à l'école aujourd'hui.

He doesn't want to go to school today.

Negation 'ne... pas' with infinitive.

L'école est fermée pendant les vacances.

The school is closed during the holidays.

Passive state with 'être' + past participle.

Tu connais cette école de musique ?

Do you know this music school?

Question with 'connaître'.

Elle habite juste à côté de l'école.

She lives right next to the school.

Prepositional phrase 'à côté de'.

Les élèves jouent dans la cour de l'école.

The students are playing in the school courtyard.

Plural noun 'élèves' and 'cour'.

Il a décidé de faire l'école buissonnière.

He decided to play truant.

Idiomatic expression.

L'école doit préparer les jeunes à la vie active.

School must prepare young people for working life.

Modal verb 'devoir' + infinitive.

Je garde de bons souvenirs de mon école.

I keep good memories of my school.

Verb 'garder' with 'souvenirs'.

C'est une école qui suit la méthode Montessori.

It's a school that follows the Montessori method.

Relative clause with 'qui'.

Il est de la vieille école, il préfère le papier.

He is old school; he prefers paper.

Idiomatic use of 'vieille école'.

L'école publique est gratuite en France.

Public school is free in France.

Adjective 'publique' and 'gratuite'.

Nous cherchons une école bilingue pour nos enfants.

We are looking for a bilingual school for our children.

Adjective 'bilingue'.

Elle a fini son école d'infirmière l'année dernière.

She finished nursing school last year.

Compound noun 'école d'infirmière'.

Le débat sur le port de l'uniforme à l'école continue.

The debate on wearing uniforms at school continues.

Abstract noun 'débat' with prepositional phrase.

Cette découverte va sans doute faire école.

This discovery will undoubtedly set a precedent.

Idiom 'faire école' meaning to be followed as a model.

L'école de la République repose sur la laïcité.

The school of the Republic is based on secularism.

Political/cultural terminology.

Il a intégré une grande école après deux ans de prépa.

He got into a 'grande école' after two years of preparatory classes.

Specific French educational term 'grande école'.

L'école ne peut pas tout résoudre seule.

School cannot solve everything on its own.

Negative 'ne peut pas' with 'tout'.

Elle appartient à l'école impressionniste.

She belongs to the Impressionist school.

Metaphorical use for an artistic movement.

Les rythmes scolaires sont souvent critiqués par les parents.

School schedules are often criticized by parents.

Adjective 'scolaires' derived from 'école'.

L'école inclusive est un défi pour de nombreux enseignants.

Inclusive schooling is a challenge for many teachers.

Adjective 'inclusive'.

L'école demeure le principal vecteur de promotion sociale.

School remains the main vehicle for social promotion.

Formal verb 'demeurer' and 'vecteur'.

Il s'inscrit dans la lignée de l'école de Francfort.

He follows in the tradition of the Frankfurt School.

Intellectual/academic context.

La massification de l'école a transformé le paysage éducatif.

The massification of schooling has transformed the educational landscape.

Sociological terminology.

Ce film est un chef-d'œuvre de l'école du réalisme poétique.

This film is a masterpiece of the poetic realism school.

Artistic classification.

L'école doit-elle se limiter à l'instruction ou viser l'éducation ?

Should school limit itself to instruction or aim for education?

Philosophical distinction between instruction and éducation.

Il a appris son métier à l'école du terrain.

He learned his trade in the 'school of hard knocks' (on the job).

Idiomatic metaphorical use.

La mixité sociale à l'école est un enjeu majeur.

Social mixing at school is a major issue.

Complex noun phrase 'mixité sociale'.

Certains prônent un retour à l'école d'autrefois.

Some advocate for a return to the school of yesteryear.

Verb 'prôner' and 'autrefois'.

L'école, sanctuaire républicain, est aujourd'hui en proie au doute.

The school, a republican sanctuary, is today prey to doubt.

Apposition and literary expression 'en proie au doute'.

Il convient d'interroger la finalité même de l'école.

It is appropriate to question the very purpose of school.

Formal 'il convient de' and 'finalité'.

Son œuvre fait école par sa rigueur et son originalité.

His work sets a standard through its rigor and originality.

Advanced use of 'faire école'.

L'école de la méfiance s'est installée dans les rapports sociaux.

A 'school of mistrust' has taken hold in social relations.

Abstract metaphorical construct.

La sémantique du mot école a évolué au fil des siècles.

The semantics of the word 'school' has evolved over the centuries.

Linguistic analysis.

Il s'agit d'une école de pensée radicalement opposée à la nôtre.

It is a school of thought radically opposed to ours.

Intellectual debate.

L'école primaire reste le socle de l'édifice républicain.

Primary school remains the foundation of the republican edifice.

Metaphorical 'socle' and 'édifice'.

L'institution scolaire fait face à des mutations sans précédent.

The school institution is facing unprecedented changes.

Formal 'mutations' and 'sans précédent'.

Colocações comuns

aller à l'école

école primaire

école maternelle

sortir de l'école

école de commerce

école de musique

fournitures d'école

chemin de l'école

directeur d'école

école publique

Frases Comuns

À l'école

— At school or to school. Used for both location and destination.

Je suis à l'école.

Après l'école

— After school. Refers to the time after classes end.

On joue au foot après l'école ?

Pendant l'école

— During school. Refers to school hours or the school year.

Il est interdit de fumer pendant l'école.

Une grande école

— A prestigious higher education institution in France.

Il rêve d'entrer dans une grande école.

L'école de la vie

— The school of life. Learning through experience.

Il n'a pas de diplôme, mais il connaît l'école de la vie.

Faire ses écoles

— To do one's military training or basic training (older usage).

Il a fait ses écoles en Allemagne.

L'école obligatoire

— Compulsory schooling.

L'école obligatoire commence à 3 ans en France.

Un sac d'école

— A school bag or backpack.

Ton sac d'école est trop lourd.

La cour d'école

— The school playground or courtyard.

Les enfants courent dans la cour d'école.

Un banc d'école

— A school bench. Often used metaphorically for being a student.

Nous nous sommes rencontrés sur les bancs d'école.

Frequentemente confundido com

école vs classe

École is the building/institution; classe is the group of students or the room.

école vs collège

Collège is middle school (ages 11-15), not university.

école vs éducation

Éducation often means 'upbringing' or 'manners' in French.

Expressões idiomáticas

"Faire l'école buissonnière"

— To skip school or play truant. Literally 'to do the bush school'.

Il faisait beau, alors on a fait l'école buissonnière.

informal

"Être de la vieille école"

— To be old school. Adhering to traditional methods or values.

Mon prof est de la vieille école : pas d'ordinateurs !

neutral

"Faire école"

— To set a precedent or start a trend that others follow.

Sa méthode de travail a fini par faire école.

formal

"Sentir l'école"

— To be pedantic or to lack practical experience.

Son discours sent un peu trop l'école.

informal

"Une école de pensée"

— A school of thought. A set of shared ideas.

C'est une école de pensée très influente en économie.

academic

"Aller à bonne école"

— To be well-trained or to have had good mentors.

Il cuisine bien, il est allé à bonne école avec son père.

neutral

"L'école du crime"

— A place (like prison) where one learns to be a criminal.

La prison est souvent appelée l'école du crime.

neutral

"Faire ses premières écoles"

— To learn the basics of a craft or profession.

Il a fait ses premières écoles dans un petit garage.

neutral

"Être à l'école de quelqu'un"

— To be a disciple or student of someone.

Il a été à l'école des plus grands peintres.

literary

"L'école du terrain"

— Learning through practical experience on the job.

Rien ne vaut l'école du terrain pour ce métier.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

école vs Scolarité

Both relate to school.

Scolarité is the state of being a student or the administrative process; école is the place.

Les frais de scolarité sont élevés dans cette école.

école vs Enseignement

Both relate to education.

Enseignement is the act of teaching or the curriculum; école is the institution.

L'enseignement des langues est bon dans cette école.

école vs Cours

Students go to both.

Cours is the specific lesson; école is the place where lessons happen.

J'ai un cours de maths à l'école.

école vs Faculté

Both are places of learning.

Faculté (fac) is university level; école is generally primary/secondary or specialized.

Il a quitté l'école pour aller à la fac.

école vs Lycée

Both are schools.

Lycée is specifically for ages 15-18; école is a general term or for primary.

Après l'école primaire, on va au collège, puis au lycée.

Padrões de frases

Je vais à l'école [time].

Je vais à l'école à huit heures.

Il y a une école [preposition] ma maison.

Il y a une école derrière ma maison.

Quand j'étais petit, mon école était [adjective].

Quand j'étais petit, mon école était très moderne.

L'école joue un rôle [adjective] dans [noun].

L'école joue un rôle crucial dans l'intégration.

L'école, en tant qu'institution, doit [verb].

L'école, en tant qu'institution, doit évoluer avec son temps.

Il est impératif que l'école [subjunctive].

Il est impératif que l'école favorise l'esprit critique.

C'est l'école de [person].

C'est l'école de mon fils.

Je cherche l'école [name].

Je cherche l'école Victor Hugo.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

Verbos

Adjetivos

Relacionado

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frequency

Extremely high. It is one of the top 500 most used nouns in French.

Erros comuns

Je vais à école. → Je vais à l'école.
You must use the definite article 'l'' in French, unlike English which often omits it.
Le petit école. → La petite école.
'École' is feminine, so the adjective must be feminine too.
Ma école. → Mon école.
Use 'mon' before feminine nouns starting with a vowel to make it easier to say.
Je suis dans l'école. → Je suis à l'école.
'À l'école' is the standard way to say 'at school'. 'Dans' implies being physically inside the building specifically.
Il va au collège (meaning university). → Il va à l'université.
'Collège' in French is middle school, not university.

Dicas

Gender Tip

Always remember 'école' is feminine. A good way to remember is that 'éducation' and 'instruction' are also feminine.

Vowel Clarity

The 'é' at the start is a sharp, closed sound. Don't let it slide into an 'i' or an 'ay' sound.

Levels Matter

In France, be specific. Use 'maternelle', 'primaire', 'collège', or 'lycée' to sound more like a native.

The Secular School

When discussing French schools, remember the concept of 'laïcité'. It is a core part of the 'école' identity.

Buissonnière

Use 'faire l'école buissonnière' when you want to sound idiomatic about skipping any obligation, not just school.

Article Usage

Never say 'en école' to mean 'at school'. It's almost always 'à l'école'.

Liaison Alert

In the plural 'les écoles', the 's' of 'les' is pronounced like a 'z'. This is a key marker for plural listening.

Old School

The phrase 'de la vieille école' is very common and useful for describing people's habits or styles.

School of Thought

Use 'école de pensée' in academic writing to group similar philosophers or theorists.

Visual Cue

Visualize a French flag on a school building to associate 'école' with its national importance.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of an 'E-COL-e' as a place where you 'COL-lect' knowledge. The 'é' at the start is like an 'E' for Education.

Associação visual

Imagine a large 'É' shaped like a school building with a bell on top. The 'c' is a curved classroom.

Word Web

professeur élève livre classe devoirs examen récréation cantine

Desafio

Try to name five things you find in an 'école' in French. Then, write a sentence about your favorite subject at 'l'école'.

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Old French 'escole', which comes from the Latin 'schola'. This in turn comes from the Ancient Greek 'skholē'.

Significado original: Interestingly, the original Greek word 'skholē' meant 'leisure' or 'spare time'. It later evolved to mean 'leisure employed in learning' or 'a place for lectures'.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > French.

Contexto cultural

Be aware of the strict 'laïcité' laws in French schools when discussing religion or culture.

In the US/UK, 'school' often includes university. In France, 'école' usually stops at 18, unless referring to a 'Grande École'.

Le Petit Nicolas (book series about a schoolboy) Être et avoir (famous documentary about a rural school) L'École des femmes (play by Molière)

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Daily Routine

Je vais à l'école.
Il est à l'école.
C'est l'heure de l'école.
Après l'école.

Parenting

Chercher les enfants à l'école.
Le sac d'école.
La maîtresse d'école.
Le carnet d'école.

Professional

Une école de commerce.
Une grande école.
Mon parcours d'école.
Sortir d'une grande école.

Art/Philosophy

Une école de pensée.
L'école flamande.
Faire école.
L'école du réalisme.

Administration

L'école publique.
L'école privée.
Le règlement de l'école.
L'inscription à l'école.

Iniciadores de conversa

"Quelle était ta matière préférée à l'école ?"

"Tu aimais aller à l'école quand tu étais petit ?"

"Est-ce que l'école est très différente dans ton pays ?"

"À quelle heure finit l'école en France ?"

"Tu penses que l'école prépare bien à la vie ?"

Temas para diário

Décrivez votre premier jour à l'école. Quels étaient vos sentiments ?

Imaginez l'école du futur. Comment sera-t-elle ?

Quel professeur a marqué votre vie à l'école et pourquoi ?

Pensez-vous que l'école devrait être obligatoire jusqu'à 18 ans ?

Racontez une fois où vous avez fait l'école buissonnière.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

It is feminine. You say 'une école' or 'la grande école'. Even though it starts with a vowel and uses 'l'', its grammatical gender remains feminine.

You say 'à l'école'. You must include the article 'l''. For example: 'Je suis à l'école' (I am at school).

It is the French preschool/kindergarten for children aged 3 to 6. It is the first stage of the French education system.

Generally no, but it is used in 'Grandes Écoles' (prestigious higher ed) or 'école de commerce' (business school). For standard university, use 'université' or 'fac'.

It's an idiom meaning to skip school or play truant. It's a common expression used by both children and adults.

In French, we use 'mon' instead of 'ma' before feminine nouns starting with a vowel to avoid a 'hiatus' (the clash of two vowel sounds).

It is the 'back-to-school' period in early September. It is a very important time in France, marking the end of summer holidays.

Yes, for training, like 'école de dressage' (dog training school). For a group of fish, we use 'banc' (un banc de poissons), not 'école'.

'École' is the common word. 'Établissement' is more formal and administrative, often used in official documents.

You must make a 'z' sound liaison between 'les' and 'écoles': /le-zekol/.

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