curso

Curso is a noun used in Spanish and Portuguese with several related meanings. It derives from Latin currere, meaning to run, and this origin reflects the sense of path or trajectory.

In education, curso most often refers to a course or program of study. It can denote a single class or subject, as in a curso de historia, or a longer program such as a bachelor's degree, a curso universitário. In many countries, the term also marks subdivisions of the academic year, for example el curso 2023-24, indicating a specific school year or term. The precise sense varies by country and context.

In geography and the natural sciences, the term describes the path followed by a river or stream—the river’s course. It can also refer more generally to the flow or progression of water within a channel.

Other uses extend to sequences or progressions of events and to planned activities. For instance, curso de acción is the common expression for a course of action, while a learning sequence might be described as the curso of activities in a curriculum.

Regional usage varies between Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities. In some dialects, curso is the everyday term for the academic year, while in others more specialized terms like año lectivo or plano de estudios may be preferred for formal contexts. The exact meaning is usually inferred from context, allowing curso to cover education, geography, and broader notions of progression or path.