Vocabulary · Everyday life
School in English
A1
School in English: people and places, school subjects, the things in your schoolbag and everyday school activities, with the British and American words. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
People and places
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| school(n.)“I go to school every day.” | where children go to learn | /skuːl/ |
| teacher(n.) | a person who gives lessons | /ˈtiːtʃə/ |
| pupil / student(n.) | a person who learns at school | /ˈpjuːpəl/ |
| classmate(n.) | someone in the same class as you | /ˈklɑːsmeɪt/ |
| headmaster / principal(n.) | the person in charge of a school | /ˌhedˈmɑːstə/ |
| classroom(n.) | the room where lessons take place | /ˈklɑːsruːm/ |
| playground(n.) | the outdoor area for breaks | /ˈpleɪɡraʊnd/ |
School subjects
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| maths(n.) | numbers, sums and shapes | /mæθs/ |
| English(n.) | the language of the UK and the US | /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/ |
| French(n.) | the language of France | /frentʃ/ |
| history(n.) | the study of the past | /ˈhɪstri/ |
| geography(n.) | the study of countries and maps | /dʒiˈɒɡrəfi/ |
| science(n.) | biology, chemistry and physics | /ˈsaɪəns/ |
| sports / PE(n.) | physical education, with games and exercise | /spɔːts/ |
| art(n.) | drawing, painting and making things | /ɑːt/ |
| music(n.) | singing and playing instruments | /ˈmjuːzɪk/ |
School things
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| pencil(n.) | a wooden tool for writing and drawing | /ˈpensəl/ |
| pen(n.) | a tool for writing in ink | /pen/ |
| book(n.) | printed pages inside a cover | /bʊk/ |
| notebook(n.) | sheets of paper to write in | /ˈnəʊtbʊk/ |
| eraser / rubber(n.) | a small block that removes pencil marks | /ɪˈreɪzə/ |
| ruler(n.) | a flat stick for measuring and drawing lines | /ˈruːlə/ |
| backpack / schoolbag(n.) | a bag that you carry on your back | /ˈbækpæk/ |
Activities
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| lesson(n.) | a period of time when you learn | /ˈlesən/ |
| homework(n.) | schoolwork that you do at home | /ˈhəʊmwɜːk/ |
| exam / test(n.) | questions that check what you know | /ɪɡˈzæm/ |
| break / recess(n.) | a short rest between lessons | /breɪk/ |
| to study(v.) | to spend time learning something | /ˈstʌdi/ |
| to learn(v.) | to get new knowledge or skills | /lɜːn/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
I go to the school ❌: no the for pupils
When you talk about going to school as a pupil, there is no article: I go to school by bus. She is at school. Use the school only for the building: My mum went to the school to talk to my teacher. It is the same with university: He is at university.
Rubber (UK) or eraser (US)?
For the thing that removes pencil marks, say rubber in the UK and eraser in the US. Be careful: in American slang, rubber has a very different meaning. Choose eraser to avoid any problem.
Practice quiz
Going further
The “School” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
Every year, the English contest uses a wide range of cultural topics. Register your students so they can see what they really remember.
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Practise on PLAYSchool: learn these words for good
Learning a long list by heart and forgetting it a few days later? With PLAY, you review the words at the right moment (spaced repetition), so they stay in your head.
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For teachers“School” vocabulary, ready for your lessons
The Academy groups these words into topic-based sequences, with quizzes and practice in context: your students remember the words, and you have nothing to mark.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the different schools called in English?+
In the UK: primary school (ages 5 to 11), secondary school (ages 11 to 16, then sixth form from 16 to 18) and university. In the US: elementary school (ages 5 to 11), middle school (about 11 to 14) and high school (14 to 18). So the change from one school to the next does not happen at the same age in the two countries.
Is it do homework or make homework?+
Say do (your) homework: I do my homework after school. Use do, not make: make homework is a common mistake.
What is the difference between a teacher and a professor?+
A teacher teaches at school (primary or secondary). A professor teaches at university, and it is an academic title. At school, always say teacher.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/school
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.