College vs. Colégio: Choose the Right Portuguese Word — Practice

Use faculdade or universidade for higher education

English college can refer to higher education. Portuguese colégio usually means a school, often one attended by children or teenagers. In Brazil, faculdade and universidade are common words for higher-education institutions, though the exact institutional structure differs from country to country.

Because school systems do not map perfectly between countries, describe the level or course when precision matters rather than relying on a one-word translation.

Explain the school level when context is unclear

Use escola for school in general, colégio for a school in contexts where that word is appropriate, and faculdade or universidade for higher education. If you are describing your own education to someone in Brazil, a short detail such as curso, universidade, or ensino médio can prevent a misleading translation.

Remember: Do not translate college as colégio automatically. For higher education, faculdade or universidade is usually the better starting point; use school-system details when needed.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. My sister studies at a public university.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Minha irmã estuda em uma universidade pública.

2. He works at a private school.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ele trabalha em um colégio particular.

3. I’m going to start college next semester.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou começar a faculdade no próximo semestre.

4. She finished high school and is going to college.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela terminou o ensino médio e vai fazer faculdade.

5. The children study at that school near home.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   As crianças estudam naquela escola perto de casa.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Do not translate college as colégio automatically. For higher education, faculdade or universidade is usually the better starting point; use school-system details when needed.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our College vs. Colégio: Choose the Right Portuguese Word lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.