College vs. Colégio: Choose the Right Portuguese Word
Colégio usually refers to a school. For higher education, Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses faculdade or universidade.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
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.
Use faculdade or universidade for higher education
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.
Minha irmã estuda em uma universidade pública.
My sister studies at a public university.
Ele trabalha em um colégio particular.
He works at a private school.
Vou começar a faculdade no próximo semestre.
I’m going to start college next semester.
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.
Ela terminou o ensino médio e vai fazer faculdade.
She finished high school and is going to college.
As crianças estudam naquela escola perto de casa.
The children study at that school near home.
Put it into practice
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.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I’m going to start college next semester”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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