B2noun3K

Kindergarten

UK /["/ˈkɪndəɡɑːtn/"]/US /["/ˈkɪndərɡɑːrtn/"]/

Definition

a school or class to prepare children aged five for school

In simple words: A school for young children, usually ages 4 to 6, before they go to first grade.

Examples

  • his first day at kindergarten
  • James is in kindergarten now, but he's moving up to infant school this autumn.
  • She teaches reading to students in kindergarten.
  • She was still attending kindergarten at Assumption School.
  • their plans for Hannah to start all-day kindergarten

Usage notes

Used commonly in the US and some other countries to refer to the first stage of formal education. It's appropriate in educational contexts but may be less familiar in regions without a kindergarten system.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Kindergarten sounds like 'kind' and 'garden'—imagine a garden where kind children grow and learn.

Collocations

  • all-day
  • full-day
  • half-day
  • enter
  • start
  • attend
  • classroom
  • class
  • children
  • at kindergarten
  • in kindergarten
  • all-day
  • full-day
  • half-day
  • enter
  • start
  • attend
  • classroom
  • class
  • children
  • at kindergarten
  • in kindergarten

Synonyms

  • preschool
  • nursery
  • early childhood education
  • pre-K

Antonyms

  • high school
  • university
  • college
  • adult education

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'preschool', which may refer to a broader range of early childhood education.
  • Spelling errors such as 'kindergarden' instead of 'kindergarten'.