First Day of SchoolClassmates, teachers, and school supplies in Spanish

Start with words for people, places and lessons. Learn the article with each noun so you can use adjectives and plurals correctly.

Aula is feminine, but it takes el directly before its stressed initial a sound in the singular: el aula nueva. The plural is las aulas. Clase can mean a lesson or the group of students, depending on context.

• Mi escuela tiene un patio grande. — My school has a big playground.
• La profesora está en el aula. — The teacher is in the classroom.
• Mis compañeros son amables. — My classmates are kind.
• ¿Cuándo empieza el recreo? — When does recess start?

These verbs describe common classroom actions. Use the present tense to talk about what happens now or regularly, and voy a + infinitive for a plan.

Conocer a is used when meeting a person: conocer a mi profesora. For sitting down, the reflexive pronoun changes with the subject: me siento, te sientas, se sienta. After quiero, keep the next verb in the infinitive.

• Quiero aprender español. — I want to learn Spanish.
• Escucho a la profesora. — I listen to the teacher.
• Voy a conocer a mis compañeros. — I am going to meet my classmates.
• Me siento cerca de la ventana. — I sit down near the window.
• ¿Puedo hacer una pregunta? — May I ask a question?

Use adjectives to describe your school, teachers and first impressions. Most adjectives follow the noun. Their endings may change to agree with that noun.

Use ser to describe a characteristic, as in la clase es interesante. Use estar for how someone feels or how something is at a particular moment, as in estoy tranquilo. Adjectives such as amable do not change for gender, but do change for number: profesores amables.

• Mi profesora es muy amable. — My teacher is very kind.
• El aula es grande y luminosa. — The classroom is large and bright.
• Las actividades son divertidas. — The activities are fun.
• Estoy un poco nerviosa. — I am a little nervous.
• Mi primer día es emocionante. — My first day is exciting.

You do not need long sentences to participate. Learn a few polite phrases for introducing yourself, asking for help and checking instructions.

Puede is the formal singular form; puedes is informal. Which form you use with a teacher depends on the school and local custom. Perdón is useful for politely getting attention or apologizing.

• Perdón, ¿puede hablar más despacio? — Excuse me, could you speak more slowly?
• ¿Puedes ayudarme con este ejercicio? — Can you help me with this exercise?
• He terminado. — I have finished.
• Gracias por ayudarme. — Thank you for helping me.

Question words help you ask about names, places, times and experiences. In written Spanish, questions have an opening ¿ and a closing ?. Question words such as qué, cómo and cuándo carry an accent.

Answer with a complete sentence when practicing. Empieza a las nueve uses a before a clock time. To describe a completed first day, use a past form such as fue; to describe today’s timetable, use the present.

• Mi profesora se llama Laura. — My teacher’s name is Laura.
• Mi clase está en la primera planta. — My classroom is on the first floor above ground level.
• La clase empieza a las nueve. — The lesson starts at nine.
• Hoy tengo matemáticas y español. — Today I have math and Spanish.
• Mi primer día fue muy divertido. — My first day was a lot of fun.

Use these words to talk about what is in your school bag. The supplies required depend on the school and course, so ask for a list if you are unsure.

Use tengo to say what you have and necesito to say what you need. A word ending in -z changes that letter to c before the plural ending: lápiz → lápices. Names for pens and erasers vary by region; pluma, lapicero and borrador are also used in different places.

• Tengo dos cuadernos y tres lápices. — I have two notebooks and three pencils.
• Necesito una regla para matemáticas. — I need a ruler for math.
• ¿Me prestas un bolígrafo? — Can you lend me a pen?
• Mi estuche está en la mochila. — My pencil case is in my backpack.
• ¿Qué materiales necesito traer? — What materials do I need to bring?

Use the present tense to describe your school day. Time expressions help show the order of activities: primero means “first,” después means “afterwards,” and al final means “at the end.”

Use a la una for one o’clock and a las for other hours. Los lunes means “on Mondays,” while el lunes can refer to a particular Monday. For homework, hacer la tarea is common in much of Latin America.

• Primero, preparo mi mochila. — First, I pack my backpack.
• Entro a clase a las ocho y media. — I go into class at half past eight.
• Después del recreo, tenemos ciencias. — After recess, we have science.
• Salgo de la escuela a la una. — I leave school at one.
• Hago los deberes por la tarde. — I do my homework in the afternoon.

Talk about feelings with estar + adjective, sentirse + adjective or expressions with tener. The adjective agrees with the person it describes.

Me siento describes how you feel. Add porque to give a reason. Be careful with English “excited”: emocionado or ilusionado is often a better choice here than excitado, which can suggest physical or sexual arousal.

• Estoy nervioso porque no conozco a nadie. — I am nervous because I do not know anyone.
• Me siento más tranquila con mi amiga. — I feel calmer with my friend.
• Estoy emocionada por conocer a mis compañeros. — I am excited to meet my classmates.
• Tengo ganas de empezar las clases. — I am eager to start classes.
• Ahora estoy contento: mi profesor es amable. — Now I am happy: my teacher is kind.

Use ¿Dónde está…? to ask where one place is and ¿Dónde están…? for a plural. Listen for location words and short directions.

For location, use estar: la biblioteca está…. The combination de + el becomes del, as in al lado del gimnasio. Floor labels vary by country; if a direction is unclear, ask someone to show you.

• ¿Dónde está la biblioteca? — Where is the library?
• Está al final del pasillo, a la derecha. — It is at the end of the hallway, on the right.
• Los baños están al lado del comedor. — The bathrooms are next to the dining hall.
• Sube las escaleras y gira a la izquierda. — Go up the stairs and turn left.
• ¿Me puede indicar dónde está mi aula? — Could you show me where my classroom is?

School job titles differ across countries and institutions. These common words help you identify the person who can answer your question.

Profesor and maestro overlap in use; follow the wording used at your school. A tutor may be responsible for a class rather than giving private lessons. When speaking directly to staff, use their preferred name or title. The level of formality varies.

• La directora nos da la bienvenida. — The principal welcomes us.
• Mi tutor explica el horario. — My class tutor explains the timetable.
• Necesito hablar con la orientadora. — I need to speak to the school counselor.
• ¿Dónde está la secretaría? — Where is the school office?
• Buenos días, profesora. ¿Puedo hacerle una pregunta? — Good morning, teacher. May I ask you a question?