materias

Materias is a plural term in Spanish and Portuguese that covers several related concepts depending on context. It most commonly denotes school subjects and, in science or industry, refers to substances or materials.

In educational usage, materias refers to the subjects that make up a curriculum, such as mathematics, language, social studies, science, and physical education. Curricula vary by country and level of schooling; some systems use asignaturas or disciplinas for subjects, while others retain the term materias. The usage emphasizes what is studied rather than how it is taught.

In science, industry, and everyday language, materia or materias means physical substance with mass and volume. The plural can refer to materials used in manufacturing, construction, and crafts (for example, wood, metal, plastic). Common phrases include materias primas (raw materials) and materias peligrosas (hazardous materials). In physics and philosophy, materia is considered a fundamental category of reality, sometimes contrasted with energy or form.

Beyond education and material meaning, materias may appear in legal, administrative, or catalog contexts to describe topics, material types, or categories covered by regulations or specifications. The precise sense of the term depends on regional usage and the surrounding discourse.