elementary school
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elementary school
(historical in Germany) The former form of compulsory school, which usually covered eight school years and provided a basic general education before being replaced by primary and secondary general schools.
Mein Großvater erzählte oft, wie streng es damals in der achtklassigen Volksschule zuging.
My grandfather often told us how strict things were back then in the eight-grade elementary school.
'Volksschule' (elementary/primary school) is made up of 'Volk' (people), the linking -s '-s-', and 'Schule' (school). So it literally means a 'school for the people'.
Die Idee der Volksschule war, allen Kindern eine Grundbildung zu ermöglichen.
The idea of the Volksschule was to make basic education possible for all children.
The meaning of this word depends strongly on the country. In Germany, it is a historical term for an earlier type of school, while in Austria and Switzerland it is the current term for primary school.
Mein Opa ging in Deutschland noch in die Volksschule.
My grandpa still went to the Volksschule in Germany.
When people in Germany talk about the 'Volksschule' (elementary school), they are referring to a past school system. The term is usually used in the preterite or present perfect when talking about the school days of older people.
Meine Großmutter hat in der Volksschule noch Schreiben auf einer Schiefertafel gelernt.
My grandmother still learned to write on a slate tablet in elementary school.
In Austria and parts of Switzerland, 'Volksschule' (primary school) is the official and everyday term for the first four school years. It is used in the present tense for children's current situation.
In Österreich dauert die Volksschule vier Jahre.
In Austria, primary school lasts four years.
elementary school
'Grundschule' and 'Volksschule' can both refer to children's first years of school, but usage depends strongly on the country and the time period. In Germany today, people normally say 'Grundschule'. There, 'Volksschule' is mainly an older, historical term for a former compulsory school. In Austria and in parts of Switzerland, however, 'Volksschule' is the normal term for the first school years. Learners may confuse the words because in some regions they mean almost the same thing. For present-day German in Germany, 'Grundschule' is usually the safe choice.
In Österreich geht meine Nichte seit September in die Volksschule.
In Austria, my niece has been going to primary school since September.
In Deutschland besuchen viele Kinder vier Jahre lang die Grundschule.
In Germany, many children attend elementary school for four years.