Colegio vs universidad

[SPX]

I assume colegio is a broader term that can be used in reference to a greater diversity of educational institutions, but I'm unclear on exactly which should be used when.

Any help?

[Luna Azul]

Each country has their own names for the different educational institutions.

I can only talk about Colombia.

"Colegio" is a "high school" and "Universidad" can be a "college" or a "university".

[SPX]

Okay, thanks. Interesting. So is colegio THE word for high school in Columbia?

What would be the word for, say, a technical school or community college?

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by SPX

Okay, thanks. Interesting. So is colegio THE word for high school in Columbia?

What would be the word for, say, a technical school or community college?

Yes, colegio is THE word for high school in ColOmbia

It would be "Instituto Técnico" or "Instituto de Escuela Media".

[SPX]

Interesting. I know I've seen other translations for "community college." It's sometimes amazing to me how much the language can vary so much from country to country when the geographical region is relatively small.

[aleCcowaN]

colegio = K-12 school. People tend to use "escuela" with elementary school and "colegio" or "liceo" with high school.

community college (US, Canada) ---> instituto superior no universitario / instituto de educación terciaria

[SPX]

Okay, cool. Thanks for that. Very informative.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by SPX

It's sometimes amazing to me how much the language can vary so much from country to country when the geographical region is relatively small.

Excuse me, what geographical region did you have in mind?

[SPX]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

Excuse me, what geographical region did you have in mind?

Central America

I know you are from South America, which is much larger.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by SPX

Central America

I know you are from South America, which is much larger.

Ah, I see! I agree as long as you are thinking of Mexico as part of North America. From Tijuana to Panama City the driving distance is about the same one from New York to San Francisco. In fact, the driving distance from Tijuana to Ushuaia is about 14,000km (almost 9,000 miles), and that is the longest trip you may take in the world without a major change of language (Spanish). They follow from afar, pretty tied, as runner-ups, the driving distance from Miami to Nome (English) and from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok (Russian), with more than 9,500 km (almost 6,000 miles).