classes

[/ˈklæsɪz/]
nounpl: classes
aulas, classes
1. A group of students meeting regularly to study the same subject under a teacher
She attends four classes per day at university.
Ela frequenta quatro aulas por dia na universidade.
2. A particular lesson or period of instruction
Math class starts at 9 AM.
A aula de matemática começa às 9 da manhã.
3. A social or economic grouping of people
The working class has been affected by inflation.
A classe trabalhadora foi afetada pela inflação.
4. A category or grade of something
This hotel is a five-star class establishment.
Este hotel é um estabelecimento de classe cinco estrelas.
5. A grade or rank in a competitive ranking
She graduated with honors in her class.
Ela se formou com honras em sua turma.
In Brazil, the word 'classe' is used for both academic classes and social classes, reflecting the country's ongoing discussions about social inequality. The education system uses 'aula' for individual lessons and 'classe' or 'turma' for student groups. In the USA, 'class' is central to educational vocabulary and also reflects important social discussions about class mobility and inequality.
NYC Slang
class (singular) can mean excellence or sophistication, as in 'that's class' meaning that's cool/impressive
Synonyms / Sinônimos
lessonscoursessessionslecturesgroupscategoriestiers

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
aulas, classes
Both terms are widely used; 'aulas' is more common for academic instruction
Rio de Janeiro
aulas, classes
Standard usage; no significant regional variation
São Paulo
aulas, classes
Standard usage; no significant regional variation
Portugal
aulas, turmas
'Turmas' is often preferred for groups of students; 'aulas' for lessons

Related Words

classroomstudentteachereducationschedulesubjectcurriculumgrades

Related Idioms & Phrases

in a class of its own (em uma categoria à parte)
class act (pessoa de qualidade)
class warfare (luta de classes)
first class (primeira classe)
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