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noun

das College, -s

college

Eine Schule oder Hochschule, an der junge Menschen lernen und sich auf einen Beruf oder ein Studium vorbereiten.

Definition & meaning

In German, the term College typically refers to a specific type of educational institution:

  1. Higher Education: It refers to an institution of higher learning in English-speaking countries (like the USA), which is often part of a university or an independent undergraduate institution. In the German-speaking world, this term is used as a loanword to describe this foreign educational model.
  2. Private Schooling (Historical/Regional): In some historical or specific international school contexts, it may refer to a secondary school or an exclusive private boarding school.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: The word is neuter (das College) and follows the plural formation die Colleges.
  • Word origin: The word was borrowed directly from the English language "college," which itself stems from the Latin "collegium" (meaning a society, guild, or partnership).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Hochschule: A general German term for higher education institutions.
  • Universität: Used when referring to the broader university system.
  • Akademie: Used in specific professional contexts.

Antonyms:

  • Berufsschule: Vocational schools, which represent a different path in the German education system compared to the academic college model.

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Examples

Viele Schüler fahren dieses Jahr ans College.noun

Many students are going to college this year.

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