School spirit
Meaning: Enthusiastic pride and support for one's school, expressed through traditions, cheering, and wearing school colors.
School spirit is the tribal loyalty Americans feel toward their college. It means wearing school colors on game day, knowing the fight song, painting your face, and genuinely caring whether your team wins. American universities cultivate school spirit through mascots, traditions, rivalries, and sports. 'You have no school spirit' is a mild insult. School spirit peaks at football and basketball games but extends to all aspects of campus identity. Alumni carry school spirit for decades — bumper stickers, class rings, and donation campaigns.
Examples
- This school has incredible school spirit — everyone shows up for games. 这所学校的校园精神太强了——比赛时所有人都到场。Esta universidad tiene un espíritu escolar increíble — todo el mundo va a los partidos.この学校はスクールスピリットがすごい。試合にはみんなが駆けつける。이 학교는 스쿨 스피릿이 대단하다. 경기에 다들 모인다.
- He has so much school spirit he named his dog after the mascot. 他的校园精神强到给自己的狗起了吉祥物的名字。Tiene tanto espíritu escolar que le puso a su perro el nombre de la mascota.彼はスクールスピリットが強すぎて、犬にマスコットの名前をつけたくらいだ。그는 스쿨 스피릿이 너무 강해서 강아지 이름을 마스코트로 지었을 정도다.
- School spirit at SEC schools is on another level. SEC联盟学校的校园精神完全是另一个层次。El espíritu escolar en las universidades de la SEC está a otro nivel.SECの大学のスクールスピリットは次元が違う。SEC 대학들의 스쿨 스피릿은 차원이 다르다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: sports, college, pride
Tone: enthusiastic, tribal
✓ Do Say
- Show some school spirit!拿出点校园精神来!¡Demuestra algo de espíritu escolar!スクールスピリットを見せよう!스쿨 스피릿을 보여줘!
- This campus has amazing school spirit.这个校园的校园精神太棒了。Este campus tiene un espíritu escolar increíble.このキャンパスはスクールスピリットがすごいね。이 캠퍼스는 스쿨 스피릿이 대단해.
✗ Don't Say
- Not everyone is into school spirit — respect that.不是每个人都热衷校园精神——要尊重这一点。No a todo el mundo le va el espíritu escolar — respeta eso.スクールスピリットに興味がない人もいる。それを尊重しよう。모든 사람이 스쿨 스피릿에 열광하는 건 아니다 — 그것을 존중해야 한다.
Origin & History
American school spirit culture developed alongside college athletics in the late 1800s. Cheerleaders (invented in the 1890s), mascots, and fight songs formalized the tradition.
Cultural Context
Era: 1890s–present
Generation: All generations
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: All regions — especially schools with strong athletics
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