diff --git a/aio/content/cheatsheet/built-in-directives.md b/aio/content/cheatsheet/built-in-directives.md
index beedbd665d..d82be6a129 100644
--- a/aio/content/cheatsheet/built-in-directives.md
+++ b/aio/content/cheatsheet/built-in-directives.md
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ Turns the li element and its contents into a template, and uses that to instanti
 @cheatsheetItem
 syntax:
 `<div [ngSwitch]="conditionExpression">
-  <template [ngSwitchCase]="case1Exp">...</template>
-  <template ngSwitchCase="case2LiteralString">...</template>
-  <template ngSwitchDefault>...</template>
+  <ng-template [ngSwitchCase]="case1Exp">...</ng-template>
+  <ng-template ngSwitchCase="case2LiteralString">...</ng-template>
+  <ng-template ngSwitchDefault>...</ng-template>
 </div>`|`[ngSwitch]`|`[ngSwitchCase]`|`ngSwitchCase`|`ngSwitchDefault`
 description:
 Conditionally swaps the contents of the div by selecting one of the embedded templates based on the current value of `conditionExpression`.
diff --git a/aio/content/cheatsheet/template-syntax.md b/aio/content/cheatsheet/template-syntax.md
index f2d1fa7953..1984273b4b 100644
--- a/aio/content/cheatsheet/template-syntax.md
+++ b/aio/content/cheatsheet/template-syntax.md
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ syntax:
 `<p *myUnless="myExpression">...</p>`|`*myUnless`
 description:
 The `*` symbol turns the current element into an embedded template. Equivalent to:
-`<template [myUnless]="myExpression"><p>...</p></template>`
+`<ng-template [myUnless]="myExpression"><p>...</p></ng-template>`
 
 @cheatsheetItem
 syntax:
diff --git a/modules/@angular/common/src/directives/ng_for_of.ts b/modules/@angular/common/src/directives/ng_for_of.ts
index 1207ceefa7..3bb141f8a2 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/common/src/directives/ng_for_of.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/common/src/directives/ng_for_of.ts
@@ -70,12 +70,12 @@ export class NgForOfRow<T> {
  * - `<li *ngFor="let item of items; let i = index; trackBy: trackByFn">...</li>`
  * - `<li template="ngFor let item of items; let i = index; trackBy: trackByFn">...</li>`
  *
- * With `<template>` element:
+ * With `<ng-template>` element:
  *
  * ```
- * <template ngFor let-item [ngForOf]="items" let-i="index" [ngForTrackBy]="trackByFn">
+ * <ng-template ngFor let-item [ngForOf]="items" let-i="index" [ngForTrackBy]="trackByFn">
  *   <li>...</li>
- * </template>
+ * </ng-template>
  * ```
  *
  * ### Example
diff --git a/modules/@angular/common/src/directives/ng_if.ts b/modules/@angular/common/src/directives/ng_if.ts
index fc6f42a7ef..ccb28a47f0 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/common/src/directives/ng_if.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/common/src/directives/ng_if.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import {Directive, EmbeddedViewRef, Input, TemplateRef, ViewContainerRef} from '
  * # Showing an alternative template using `else`
  *
  * If it is necessary to display a template when the `expression` is falsy use the `else` template
- * binding as shown. Note that the `else` binding points to a `<template>` labeled `#elseBlock`.
+ * binding as shown. Note that the `else` binding points to a `<ng-template>` labeled `#elseBlock`.
  * The template can be defined anywhere in the component view but is typically placed right after
  * `ngIf` for readability.
  *
@@ -76,25 +76,25 @@ import {Directive, EmbeddedViewRef, Input, TemplateRef, ViewContainerRef} from '
  * Simple form:
  * - `<div *ngIf="condition">...</div>`
  * - `<div template="ngIf condition">...</div>`
- * - `<template [ngIf]="condition"><div>...</div></template>`
+ * - `<ng-template [ngIf]="condition"><div>...</div></ng-template>`
  *
  * Form with an else block:
  * ```
  * <div *ngIf="condition; else elseBlock">...</div>
- * <template #elseBlock>...</template>
+ * <ng-template #elseBlock>...</ng-template>
  * ```
  *
  * Form with a `then` and `else` block:
  * ```
  * <div *ngIf="condition; then thenBlock else elseBlock"></div>
- * <template #thenBlock>...</template>
- * <template #elseBlock>...</template>
+ * <ng-template #thenBlock>...</ng-template>
+ * <ng-template #elseBlock>...</ng-template>
  * ```
  *
  * Form with storing the value locally:
  * ```
  * <div *ngIf="condition; else elseBlock; let value">{{value}}</div>
- * <template #elseBlock>...</template>
+ * <ng-template #elseBlock>...</ng-template>
  * ```
  *
  * @stable
diff --git a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_component_outlet_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_component_outlet_spec.ts
index 24c01fe006..99250f33e6 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_component_outlet_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_component_outlet_spec.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export function main() {
     beforeEach(() => { TestBed.configureTestingModule({imports: [TestModule]}); });
 
     it('should do nothing if component is null', async(() => {
-         const template = `<template *ngComponentOutlet="currentComponent"></template>`;
+         const template = `<ng-template *ngComponentOutlet="currentComponent"></ng-template>`;
          TestBed.overrideComponent(TestComponent, {set: {template: template}});
          let fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestComponent);
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ export function main() {
        }));
 
     it('should render projectable nodes, if supplied', async(() => {
-         const template = `<template>projected foo</template>${TEST_CMP_TEMPLATE}`;
+         const template = `<ng-template>projected foo</ng-template>${TEST_CMP_TEMPLATE}`;
          TestBed.overrideComponent(TestComponent, {set: {template: template}})
              .configureTestingModule({schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]});
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ class InjectedComponentAgain {
 }
 
 const TEST_CMP_TEMPLATE =
-    `<template *ngComponentOutlet="currentComponent; injector: injector; content: projectables; ngModuleFactory: module;"></template>`;
+    `<ng-template *ngComponentOutlet="currentComponent; injector: injector; content: projectables; ngModuleFactory: module;"></ng-template>`;
 @Component({selector: 'test-cmp', template: TEST_CMP_TEMPLATE})
 class TestComponent {
   currentComponent: Type<any>;
diff --git a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_for_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_for_spec.ts
index e251ed62a2..5aed2a140f 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_for_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_for_spec.ts
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ export function main() {
     it('should allow to use a custom template', async(() => {
          const template =
              '<ng-container *ngFor="let item of items; template: tpl"></ng-container>' +
-             '<template let-item let-i="index" #tpl><p>{{i}}: {{item}};</p></template>';
+             '<ng-template let-item let-i="index" #tpl><p>{{i}}: {{item}};</p></ng-template>';
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
          getComponent().items = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
          fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ export function main() {
     it('should use a custom template when both default and a custom one are present', async(() => {
          const template =
              '<ng-container *ngFor="let item of items; template: tpl">{{i}};</ng-container>' +
-             '<template let-item let-i="index" #tpl>{{i}}: {{item}};</template>';
+             '<ng-template let-item let-i="index" #tpl>{{i}}: {{item}};</ng-template>';
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
          getComponent().items = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
          fixture.detectChanges();
diff --git a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_if_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_if_spec.ts
index efc875e975..44b7280365 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_if_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_if_spec.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export function main() {
        }));
 
     it('should work on a template element', async(() => {
-         const template = '<template [ngIf]="booleanCondition">hello2</template>';
+         const template = '<ng-template [ngIf]="booleanCondition">hello2</ng-template>';
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
          fixture.detectChanges();
          expect(fixture.nativeElement).toHaveText('hello2');
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ export function main() {
     describe('else', () => {
       it('should support else', async(() => {
            const template = '<span *ngIf="booleanCondition; else elseBlock">TRUE</span>' +
-               '<template #elseBlock>FALSE</template>';
+               '<ng-template #elseBlock>FALSE</ng-template>';
 
            fixture = createTestComponent(template);
 
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ export function main() {
       it('should support then and else', async(() => {
            const template =
                '<span *ngIf="booleanCondition; then thenBlock; else elseBlock">IGNORE</span>' +
-               '<template #thenBlock>THEN</template>' +
-               '<template #elseBlock>ELSE</template>';
+               '<ng-template #thenBlock>THEN</ng-template>' +
+               '<ng-template #elseBlock>ELSE</ng-template>';
 
            fixture = createTestComponent(template);
 
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ export function main() {
       it('should support dynamic else', async(() => {
            const template =
                '<span *ngIf="booleanCondition; else nestedBooleanCondition ? b1 : b2">TRUE</span>' +
-               '<template #b1>FALSE1</template>' +
-               '<template #b2>FALSE2</template>';
+               '<ng-template #b1>FALSE1</ng-template>' +
+               '<ng-template #b2>FALSE2</ng-template>';
 
            fixture = createTestComponent(template);
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export function main() {
 
       it('should support binding to variable', async(() => {
            const template = '<span *ngIf="booleanCondition; else elseBlock; let v">{{v}}</span>' +
-               '<template #elseBlock let-v>{{v}}</template>';
+               '<ng-template #elseBlock let-v>{{v}}</ng-template>';
 
            fixture = createTestComponent(template);
 
diff --git a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_plural_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_plural_spec.ts
index bd78843a07..3a19cfad4d 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_plural_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_plural_spec.ts
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should display the template according to the exact value', async(() => {
          const template = '<ul [ngPlural]="switchValue">' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="=0"><li>you have no messages.</li></template>' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="=1"><li>you have one message.</li></template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="=0"><li>you have no messages.</li></ng-template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="=1"><li>you have one message.</li></ng-template>' +
              '</ul>';
 
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export function main() {
     // https://github.com/angular/angular/issues/9882
     it('should not throw when ngPluralCase contains expressions', async(() => {
          const template = '<ul [ngPlural]="switchValue">' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="=0"><li>{{ switchValue }}</li></template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="=0"><li>{{ switchValue }}</li></ng-template>' +
              '</ul>';
 
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should be applicable to <ng-container> elements', async(() => {
          const template = '<ng-container [ngPlural]="switchValue">' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="=0">you have no messages.</template>' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="=1">you have one message.</template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="=0">you have no messages.</ng-template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="=1">you have one message.</ng-template>' +
              '</ng-container>';
 
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should display the template according to the category', async(() => {
          const template = '<ul [ngPlural]="switchValue">' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="few"><li>you have a few messages.</li></template>' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="many"><li>you have many messages.</li></template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="few"><li>you have a few messages.</li></ng-template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="many"><li>you have many messages.</li></ng-template>' +
              '</ul>';
 
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should default to other when no matches are found', async(() => {
          const template = '<ul [ngPlural]="switchValue">' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="few"><li>you have a few messages.</li></template>' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="other"><li>default message.</li></template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="few"><li>you have a few messages.</li></ng-template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="other"><li>default message.</li></ng-template>' +
              '</ul>';
 
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should prioritize value matches over category matches', async(() => {
          const template = '<ul [ngPlural]="switchValue">' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="few"><li>you have a few messages.</li></template>' +
-             '<template ngPluralCase="=2">you have two messages.</template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="few"><li>you have a few messages.</li></ng-template>' +
+             '<ng-template ngPluralCase="=2">you have two messages.</ng-template>' +
              '</ul>';
 
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
diff --git a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_template_outlet_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_template_outlet_spec.ts
index df0b31189a..fb3cffd141 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_template_outlet_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/common/test/directives/ng_template_outlet_spec.ts
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ export function main() {
        }));
 
     it('should insert content specified by TemplateRef', async(() => {
-         const template = `<template #tpl>foo</template>` +
+         const template = `<ng-template #tpl>foo</ng-template>` +
              `<ng-container [ngTemplateOutlet]="tpl"></ng-container>`;
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
          detectChangesAndExpectText('foo');
        }));
 
     it('should clear content if TemplateRef becomes `null`', async(() => {
-         const template = `<tpl-refs #refs="tplRefs"><template>foo</template></tpl-refs>` +
+         const template = `<tpl-refs #refs="tplRefs"><ng-template>foo</ng-template></tpl-refs>` +
              `<ng-container [ngTemplateOutlet]="currentTplRef"></ng-container>`;
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
          fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should swap content if TemplateRef changes', async(() => {
          const template =
-             `<tpl-refs #refs="tplRefs"><template>foo</template><template>bar</template></tpl-refs>` +
+             `<tpl-refs #refs="tplRefs"><ng-template>foo</ng-template><ng-template>bar</ng-template></tpl-refs>` +
              `<ng-container [ngTemplateOutlet]="currentTplRef"></ng-container>`;
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
 
@@ -78,14 +78,14 @@ export function main() {
        }));
 
     it('should display template if context is `null`', async(() => {
-         const template = `<template #tpl>foo</template>` +
+         const template = `<ng-template #tpl>foo</ng-template>` +
              `<ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="tpl; context: null"></ng-container>`;
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
          detectChangesAndExpectText('foo');
        }));
 
     it('should reflect initial context and changes', async(() => {
-         const template = `<template let-foo="foo" #tpl>{{foo}}</template>` +
+         const template = `<ng-template let-foo="foo" #tpl>{{foo}}</ng-template>` +
              `<ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="tpl; context: context"></ng-container>`;
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export function main() {
        }));
 
     it('should reflect user defined `$implicit` property in the context', async(() => {
-         const template = `<template let-ctx #tpl>{{ctx.foo}}</template>` +
+         const template = `<ng-template let-ctx #tpl>{{ctx.foo}}</ng-template>` +
              `<ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="tpl; context: context"></ng-container>`;
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
          fixture.componentInstance.context = {$implicit: {foo: 'bra'}};
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ export function main() {
        }));
 
     it('should reflect context re-binding', async(() => {
-         const template = `<template let-shawshank="shawshank" #tpl>{{shawshank}}</template>` +
+         const template =
+             `<ng-template let-shawshank="shawshank" #tpl>{{shawshank}}</ng-template>` +
              `<ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="tpl; context: context"></ng-container>`;
          fixture = createTestComponent(template);
 
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/jit/compiler_factory.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/jit/compiler_factory.ts
index 129fc693b6..3c4b576e5a 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/jit/compiler_factory.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/jit/compiler_factory.ts
@@ -109,12 +109,15 @@ export const COMPILER_PROVIDERS: Array<any|Type<any>|{[k: string]: any}|any[]> =
 export class JitCompilerFactory implements CompilerFactory {
   private _defaultOptions: CompilerOptions[];
   constructor(@Inject(COMPILER_OPTIONS) defaultOptions: CompilerOptions[]) {
-    this._defaultOptions = [<CompilerOptions>{
-                             useDebug: isDevMode(),
-                             useJit: true,
-                             defaultEncapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.Emulated,
-                             missingTranslation: MissingTranslationStrategy.Warning,
-                           }].concat(defaultOptions);
+    const compilerOptions: CompilerOptions = {
+      useDebug: isDevMode(),
+      useJit: true,
+      defaultEncapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.Emulated,
+      missingTranslation: MissingTranslationStrategy.Warning,
+      enableLegacyTemplate: true,
+    };
+
+    this._defaultOptions = [compilerOptions, ...defaultOptions];
   }
   createCompiler(options: CompilerOptions[] = []): Compiler {
     const opts = _mergeOptions(this._defaultOptions.concat(options));
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/ml_parser/html_tags.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/ml_parser/html_tags.ts
index 664a44d80b..aaf3a4d121 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/ml_parser/html_tags.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/ml_parser/html_tags.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ export class HtmlTagDefinition implements TagDefinition {
     }
 
     const lcParent = currentParent.toLowerCase();
-    return this.requiredParents[lcParent] != true && lcParent != 'template';
+    const isParentTemplate = lcParent === 'template' || currentParent === 'ng-template';
+    return !isParentTemplate && this.requiredParents[lcParent] != true;
   }
 
   isClosedByChild(name: string): boolean {
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/ml_parser/icu_ast_expander.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/ml_parser/icu_ast_expander.ts
index 1d12779519..d135ee95a3 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/ml_parser/icu_ast_expander.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/ml_parser/icu_ast_expander.ts
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ const PLURAL_CASES: string[] = ['zero', 'one', 'two', 'few', 'many', 'other'];
  *
  * ```
  * <ng-container [ngPlural]="messages.length">
- *   <template ngPluralCase="=0">zero</template>
- *   <template ngPluralCase="=1">one</template>
- *   <template ngPluralCase="other">more than one</template>
+ *   <ng-template ngPluralCase="=0">zero</ng-template>
+ *   <ng-template ngPluralCase="=1">one</ng-template>
+ *   <ng-template ngPluralCase="other">more than one</ng-template>
  * </ng-container>
  * ```
  */
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ class _Expander implements html.Visitor {
   }
 }
 
+// Plural forms are expanded to `NgPlural` and `NgPluralCase`s
 function _expandPluralForm(ast: html.Expansion, errors: ParseError[]): html.Element {
   const children = ast.cases.map(c => {
     if (PLURAL_CASES.indexOf(c.value) == -1 && !c.value.match(/^=\d+$/)) {
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ function _expandPluralForm(ast: html.Expansion, errors: ParseError[]): html.Elem
     errors.push(...expansionResult.errors);
 
     return new html.Element(
-        `template`, [new html.Attribute('ngPluralCase', `${c.value}`, c.valueSourceSpan)],
+        `ng-template`, [new html.Attribute('ngPluralCase', `${c.value}`, c.valueSourceSpan)],
         expansionResult.nodes, c.sourceSpan, c.sourceSpan, c.sourceSpan);
   });
   const switchAttr = new html.Attribute('[ngPlural]', ast.switchValue, ast.switchValueSourceSpan);
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@ function _expandPluralForm(ast: html.Expansion, errors: ParseError[]): html.Elem
       'ng-container', [switchAttr], children, ast.sourceSpan, ast.sourceSpan, ast.sourceSpan);
 }
 
+// ICU messages (excluding plural form) are expanded to `NgSwitch`  and `NgSwitychCase`s
 function _expandDefaultForm(ast: html.Expansion, errors: ParseError[]): html.Element {
   const children = ast.cases.map(c => {
     const expansionResult = expandNodes(c.expression);
@@ -109,12 +111,12 @@ function _expandDefaultForm(ast: html.Expansion, errors: ParseError[]): html.Ele
     if (c.value === 'other') {
       // other is the default case when no values match
       return new html.Element(
-          `template`, [new html.Attribute('ngSwitchDefault', '', c.valueSourceSpan)],
+          `ng-template`, [new html.Attribute('ngSwitchDefault', '', c.valueSourceSpan)],
           expansionResult.nodes, c.sourceSpan, c.sourceSpan, c.sourceSpan);
     }
 
     return new html.Element(
-        `template`, [new html.Attribute('ngSwitchCase', `${c.value}`, c.valueSourceSpan)],
+        `ng-template`, [new html.Attribute('ngSwitchCase', `${c.value}`, c.valueSourceSpan)],
         expansionResult.nodes, c.sourceSpan, c.sourceSpan, c.sourceSpan);
   });
   const switchAttr = new html.Attribute('[ngSwitch]', ast.switchValue, ast.switchValueSourceSpan);
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/template_parser/template_ast.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/template_parser/template_ast.ts
index a017233bef..8c2a7ef75e 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/template_parser/template_ast.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/template_parser/template_ast.ts
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ export class ReferenceAst implements TemplateAst {
 }
 
 /**
- * A variable declaration on a <template> (e.g. `var-someName="someLocalName"`).
+ * A variable declaration on a <ng-template> (e.g. `var-someName="someLocalName"`).
  */
 export class VariableAst implements TemplateAst {
   constructor(public name: string, public value: string, public sourceSpan: ParseSourceSpan) {}
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ export class ElementAst implements TemplateAst {
 }
 
 /**
- * A `<template>` element included in an Angular template.
+ * A `<ng-template>` element included in an Angular template.
  */
 export class EmbeddedTemplateAst implements TemplateAst {
   constructor(
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/template_parser/template_parser.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/template_parser/template_parser.ts
index 121f8fa561..df2b9ac9f0 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/template_parser/template_parser.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/template_parser/template_parser.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ const IDENT_PROPERTY_IDX = 9;
 // Group 10 = identifier inside ()
 const IDENT_EVENT_IDX = 10;
 
+const NG_TEMPLATE_ELEMENT = 'ng-template';
+// deprecated in 4.x
 const TEMPLATE_ELEMENT = 'template';
+// deprecated in 4.x
 const TEMPLATE_ATTR = 'template';
 const TEMPLATE_ATTR_PREFIX = '*';
 const CLASS_ATTR = 'class';
@@ -269,8 +272,9 @@ class TemplateParseVisitor implements html.Visitor {
 
     let hasInlineTemplates = false;
     const attrs: AttrAst[] = [];
-    const lcElName = splitNsName(nodeName.toLowerCase())[1];
-    const isTemplateElement = lcElName == TEMPLATE_ELEMENT;
+    const isTemplateElement = isTemplate(
+        element,
+        (m: string, span: ParseSourceSpan) => this._reportError(m, span, ParseErrorLevel.WARNING));
 
     element.attrs.forEach(attr => {
       const hasBinding = this._parseAttr(
@@ -282,6 +286,9 @@ class TemplateParseVisitor implements html.Visitor {
       let normalizedName = this._normalizeAttributeName(attr.name);
 
       if (normalizedName == TEMPLATE_ATTR) {
+        this._reportError(
+            `The template attribute is deprecated. Use an ng-template element instead.`,
+            attr.sourceSpan, ParseErrorLevel.WARNING);
         templateBindingsSource = attr.value;
       } else if (normalizedName.startsWith(TEMPLATE_ATTR_PREFIX)) {
         templateBindingsSource = attr.value;
@@ -379,10 +386,9 @@ class TemplateParseVisitor implements html.Visitor {
 
     if (hasInlineTemplates) {
       const templateQueryStartIndex = this.contentQueryStartId;
-      const templateCssSelector =
-          createElementCssSelector(TEMPLATE_ELEMENT, templateMatchableAttrs);
+      const templateSelector = createElementCssSelector(TEMPLATE_ELEMENT, templateMatchableAttrs);
       const {directives: templateDirectiveMetas} =
-          this._parseDirectives(this.selectorMatcher, templateCssSelector);
+          this._parseDirectives(this.selectorMatcher, templateSelector);
       const templateBoundDirectivePropNames = new Set<string>();
       const templateDirectiveAsts = this._createDirectiveAsts(
           true, element.name, templateDirectiveMetas, templateElementOrDirectiveProps, [],
@@ -896,3 +902,19 @@ function isEmptyExpression(ast: AST): boolean {
   }
   return ast instanceof EmptyExpr;
 }
+
+// `template` is deprecated in 4.x
+function isTemplate(
+    el: html.Element, reportDeprecation: (m: string, span: ParseSourceSpan) => void): boolean {
+  const tagNoNs = splitNsName(el.name)[1];
+  // `<ng-template>` is an angular construct and is lower case
+  if (tagNoNs === NG_TEMPLATE_ELEMENT) return true;
+  // `<template>` is HTML and case insensitive
+  if (tagNoNs.toLowerCase() === TEMPLATE_ELEMENT) {
+    reportDeprecation(
+        `The <template> element is deprecated. Use <ng-template> instead`, el.sourceSpan);
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/view_compiler/query_binder.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/view_compiler/query_binder.ts
index 6d2e64008b..1a9229b67b 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/src/view_compiler/query_binder.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/src/view_compiler/query_binder.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {CompileQuery} from './compile_query';
 
 
 // Note: We can't do this when we create the CompileElements already,
-// as we create embedded views before the <template> elements themselves.
+// as we create embedded views before the <ng-template> elements themselves.
 export function bindQueryValues(ce: CompileElement) {
   const queriesWithReads: _QueryWithRead[] = [];
 
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/test/ml_parser/html_parser_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/test/ml_parser/html_parser_spec.ts
index ba9eb07f6c..6de0084499 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/test/ml_parser/html_parser_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/test/ml_parser/html_parser_spec.ts
@@ -31,10 +31,14 @@ export function main() {
           ]);
         });
 
-        it('should parse text nodes inside template elements', () => {
+        it('should parse text nodes inside <ng-template> elements', () => {
+          // deprecated in 4.0
           expect(humanizeDom(parser.parse('<template>a</template>', 'TestComp'))).toEqual([
             [html.Element, 'template', 0], [html.Text, 'a', 1]
           ]);
+          expect(humanizeDom(parser.parse('<ng-template>a</ng-template>', 'TestComp'))).toEqual([
+            [html.Element, 'ng-template', 0], [html.Text, 'a', 1]
+          ]);
         });
 
         it('should parse CDATA', () => {
@@ -57,9 +61,11 @@ export function main() {
           ]);
         });
 
-        it('should parse elements inside of template elements', () => {
+        it('should parse elements inside  <ng-template> elements', () => {
           expect(humanizeDom(parser.parse('<template><span></span></template>', 'TestComp')))
               .toEqual([[html.Element, 'template', 0], [html.Element, 'span', 1]]);
+          expect(humanizeDom(parser.parse('<ng-template><span></span></ng-template>', 'TestComp')))
+              .toEqual([[html.Element, 'ng-template', 0], [html.Element, 'span', 1]]);
         });
 
         it('should support void elements', () => {
@@ -158,11 +164,16 @@ export function main() {
               ]);
         });
 
-        it('should not add the requiredParent when the parent is a template', () => {
+        it('should not add the requiredParent when the parent is a <ng-template>', () => {
           expect(humanizeDom(parser.parse('<template><tr></tr></template>', 'TestComp'))).toEqual([
             [html.Element, 'template', 0],
             [html.Element, 'tr', 1],
           ]);
+          expect(humanizeDom(parser.parse('<ng-template><tr></tr></ng-template>', 'TestComp')))
+              .toEqual([
+                [html.Element, 'ng-template', 0],
+                [html.Element, 'tr', 1],
+              ]);
         });
 
         // https://github.com/angular/angular/issues/5967
@@ -252,11 +263,16 @@ export function main() {
           ]);
         });
 
-        it('should parse attributes on template elements', () => {
+        it('should parse attributes on <ng-template> elements', () => {
           expect(humanizeDom(parser.parse('<template k="v"></template>', 'TestComp'))).toEqual([
             [html.Element, 'template', 0],
             [html.Attribute, 'k', 'v'],
           ]);
+          expect(humanizeDom(parser.parse('<ng-template k="v"></ng-template>', 'TestComp')))
+              .toEqual([
+                [html.Element, 'ng-template', 0],
+                [html.Attribute, 'k', 'v'],
+              ]);
         });
 
         it('should support namespace', () => {
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/test/ml_parser/icu_ast_expander_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/test/ml_parser/icu_ast_expander_spec.ts
index f54c52eab4..65de77394b 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/test/ml_parser/icu_ast_expander_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/test/ml_parser/icu_ast_expander_spec.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export function main() {
       expect(humanizeNodes(res.nodes)).toEqual([
         [html.Element, 'ng-container', 0],
         [html.Attribute, '[ngPlural]', 'messages.length'],
-        [html.Element, 'template', 1],
+        [html.Element, 'ng-template', 1],
         [html.Attribute, 'ngPluralCase', '=0'],
         [html.Text, 'zero', 2],
         [html.Element, 'b', 2],
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ export function main() {
       expect(humanizeNodes(res.nodes)).toEqual([
         [html.Element, 'ng-container', 0],
         [html.Attribute, '[ngPlural]', 'messages.length'],
-        [html.Element, 'template', 1],
+        [html.Element, 'ng-template', 1],
         [html.Attribute, 'ngPluralCase', '=0'],
         [html.Element, 'ng-container', 2],
         [html.Attribute, '[ngSwitch]', 'p.gender'],
-        [html.Element, 'template', 3],
+        [html.Element, 'ng-template', 3],
         [html.Attribute, 'ngSwitchCase', '=m'],
         [html.Text, 'm', 4],
         [html.Text, ' ', 2],
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ export function main() {
       expect(humanizeNodes(res.nodes)).toEqual([
         [html.Element, 'ng-container', 0],
         [html.Attribute, '[ngSwitch]', 'person.gender'],
-        [html.Element, 'template', 1],
+        [html.Element, 'ng-template', 1],
         [html.Attribute, 'ngSwitchCase', 'male'],
         [html.Text, 'm', 2],
-        [html.Element, 'template', 1],
+        [html.Element, 'ng-template', 1],
         [html.Attribute, 'ngSwitchDefault', ''],
         [html.Text, 'default', 2],
       ]);
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export function main() {
         [html.Element, 'span', 1],
         [html.Element, 'ng-container', 2],
         [html.Attribute, '[ngSwitch]', 'a'],
-        [html.Element, 'template', 3],
+        [html.Element, 'ng-template', 3],
         [html.Attribute, 'ngSwitchCase', '=4'],
         [html.Text, 'c', 4],
       ]);
diff --git a/modules/@angular/compiler/test/template_parser/template_parser_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/compiler/test/template_parser/template_parser_spec.ts
index 68cf09b423..c8129bd88b 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/compiler/test/template_parser/template_parser_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/compiler/test/template_parser/template_parser_spec.ts
@@ -563,16 +563,23 @@ Binding to attribute 'onEvent' is disallowed for security reasons ("<my-componen
              const dirA =
                  CompileDirectiveMetadata
                      .create({
-                       selector: 'template',
+                       selector: 'template,ng-template',
                        outputs: ['e'],
                        type: createTypeMeta({reference: {filePath: someModuleUrl, name: 'DirA'}})
                      })
                      .toSummary();
+
              expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<template (e)="f"></template>', [dirA]))).toEqual([
                [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
                [BoundEventAst, 'e', null, 'f'],
                [DirectiveAst, dirA],
              ]);
+
+             expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<ng-template (e)="f"></ng-template>', [dirA]))).toEqual([
+               [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+               [BoundEventAst, 'e', null, 'f'],
+               [DirectiveAst, dirA],
+             ]);
            });
       });
 
@@ -1167,7 +1174,8 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
            () => {
              expect(() => parse('<div #a><template #a><span>OK</span></template></div>', []))
                  .not.toThrowError();
-
+             expect(() => parse('<div #a><ng-template #a><span>OK</span></ng-template></div>', []))
+                 .not.toThrowError();
            });
 
         it('should assign references with empty value to components', () => {
@@ -1204,25 +1212,35 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
       });
 
       describe('explicit templates', () => {
-        it('should create embedded templates for <template> elements', () => {
+        it('should create embedded templates for <ng-template> elements', () => {
           expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<template></template>', [
           ]))).toEqual([[EmbeddedTemplateAst]]);
           expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<TEMPLATE></TEMPLATE>', [
           ]))).toEqual([[EmbeddedTemplateAst]]);
+          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<ng-template></ng-template>', [
+          ]))).toEqual([[EmbeddedTemplateAst]]);
         });
 
-        it('should create embedded templates for <template> elements regardless the namespace',
+        it('should create embedded templates for <ng-template> elements regardless the namespace',
            () => {
              expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<svg><template></template></svg>', []))).toEqual([
                [ElementAst, ':svg:svg'],
                [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
              ]);
+             expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<svg><ng-template></ng-template></svg>', []))).toEqual([
+               [ElementAst, ':svg:svg'],
+               [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+             ]);
            });
 
         it('should support references via #...', () => {
           expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<template #a>', []))).toEqual([
             [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
-            [ReferenceAst, 'a', createIdentifierToken(Identifiers.TemplateRef)]
+            [ReferenceAst, 'a', createIdentifierToken(Identifiers.TemplateRef)],
+          ]);
+          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<ng-template #a>', []))).toEqual([
+            [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+            [ReferenceAst, 'a', createIdentifierToken(Identifiers.TemplateRef)],
           ]);
         });
 
@@ -1231,11 +1249,21 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
             [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
             [ReferenceAst, 'a', createIdentifierToken(Identifiers.TemplateRef)]
           ]);
+          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<ng-template ref-a>', []))).toEqual([
+            [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+            [ReferenceAst, 'a', createIdentifierToken(Identifiers.TemplateRef)]
+          ]);
         });
 
         it('should parse variables via let-...', () => {
-          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<template let-a="b">', [
-          ]))).toEqual([[EmbeddedTemplateAst], [VariableAst, 'a', 'b']]);
+          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<template let-a="b">', []))).toEqual([
+            [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+            [VariableAst, 'a', 'b'],
+          ]);
+          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<ng-template let-a="b">', []))).toEqual([
+            [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+            [VariableAst, 'a', 'b'],
+          ]);
         });
 
         it('should not locate directives in variables', () => {
@@ -1247,7 +1275,12 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
                   })
                   .toSummary();
           expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<template let-a="b"></template>', [dirA]))).toEqual([
-            [EmbeddedTemplateAst], [VariableAst, 'a', 'b']
+            [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+            [VariableAst, 'a', 'b'],
+          ]);
+          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<ng-template let-a="b"></ng-template>', [dirA]))).toEqual([
+            [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+            [VariableAst, 'a', 'b'],
           ]);
         });
 
@@ -1255,8 +1288,10 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
 
       describe('inline templates', () => {
         it('should wrap the element into an EmbeddedTemplateAST', () => {
-          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<div template>', [
-          ]))).toEqual([[EmbeddedTemplateAst], [ElementAst, 'div']]);
+          expect(humanizeTplAst(parse('<div template>', []))).toEqual([
+            [EmbeddedTemplateAst],
+            [ElementAst, 'div'],
+          ]);
         });
 
         it('should wrap the element with data-template attribute into an EmbeddedTemplateAST ',
@@ -1403,7 +1438,10 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
       describe('project text nodes', () => {
         it('should project text nodes with wildcard selector', () => {
           expect(humanizeContentProjection(parse('<div>hello</div>', [createComp('div', ['*'])])))
-              .toEqual([['div', null], ['#text(hello)', 0]]);
+              .toEqual([
+                ['div', null],
+                ['#text(hello)', 0],
+              ]);
         });
       });
 
@@ -1415,24 +1453,37 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
         });
 
         it('should project elements with css selector', () => {
-          expect(humanizeContentProjection(parse('<div><a x></a><b></b></div>', [
-            createComp('div', ['a[x]'])
-          ]))).toEqual([['div', null], ['a', 0], ['b', null]]);
+          expect(humanizeContentProjection(
+                     parse('<div><a x></a><b></b></div>', [createComp('div', ['a[x]'])])))
+              .toEqual([
+                ['div', null],
+                ['a', 0],
+                ['b', null],
+              ]);
         });
       });
 
       describe('embedded templates', () => {
         it('should project embedded templates with wildcard selector', () => {
-          expect(humanizeContentProjection(parse('<div><template></template></div>', [
-            createComp('div', ['*'])
-          ]))).toEqual([['div', null], ['template', 0]]);
+          expect(humanizeContentProjection(parse(
+                     '<div><template></template><ng-template></ng-template></div>',
+                     [createComp('div', ['*'])])))
+              .toEqual([
+                ['div', null],
+                ['template', 0],
+                ['template', 0],
+              ]);
         });
 
         it('should project embedded templates with css selector', () => {
           expect(humanizeContentProjection(parse(
-                     '<div><template x></template><template></template></div>',
-                     [createComp('div', ['template[x]'])])))
-              .toEqual([['div', null], ['template', 0], ['template', null]]);
+                     '<div><ng-template x></ng-template><ng-template></ng-template></div>',
+                     [createComp('div', ['ng-template[x]'])])))
+              .toEqual([
+                ['div', null],
+                ['template', 0],
+                ['template', null],
+              ]);
         });
       });
 
@@ -1501,18 +1552,27 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
               .toEqual([['div', null], ['ng-content', 1]]);
         });
 
-        it('should override <template>', () => {
-          expect(humanizeContentProjection(parse(
-                     '<div><template ngProjectAs="b"></template></div>',
-                     [createComp('div', ['template', 'b'])])))
-              .toEqual([['div', null], ['template', 1]]);
+        it('should override <ng-template>', () => {
+          expect(
+              humanizeContentProjection(parse(
+                  '<div><template ngProjectAs="b"></template><ng-template ngProjectAs="b"></ng-template></div>',
+                  [createComp('div', ['template', 'b'])])))
+              .toEqual([
+                ['div', null],
+                ['template', 1],
+                ['template', 1],
+              ]);
         });
 
         it('should override inline templates', () => {
           expect(humanizeContentProjection(parse(
                      '<div><a *ngIf="cond" ngProjectAs="b"></a></div>',
                      [createComp('div', ['a', 'b']), ngIf])))
-              .toEqual([['div', null], ['template', 1], ['a', null]]);
+              .toEqual([
+                ['div', null],
+                ['template', 1],
+                ['a', null],
+              ]);
         });
       });
 
@@ -1539,13 +1599,17 @@ Reference "#a" is defined several times ("<div #a></div><div [ERROR ->]#a></div>
                 `<ng-content> element cannot have content. ("[ERROR ->]<ng-content>content</ng-content>"): TestComp@0:0`);
       });
 
-      it('should treat *attr on a template element as valid',
-         () => { expect(() => parse('<template *ngIf>', [])).not.toThrowError(); });
+      it('should treat *attr on a template element as valid', () => {
+        expect(() => parse('<template *ngIf>', [])).not.toThrowError();
+        expect(() => parse('<ng-template *ngIf>', [])).not.toThrowError();
+      });
 
-      it('should treat template attribute on a template element as valid',
-         () => { expect(() => parse('<template template="ngIf">', [])).not.toThrowError(); });
+      it('should treat template attribute on a template element as valid', () => {
+        expect(() => parse('<template template="ngIf">', [])).not.toThrowError();
+        expect(() => parse('<ng-template template="ngIf">', [])).not.toThrowError();
+      });
 
-      it('should report when mutliple *attrs are used on the same element', () => {
+      it('should report when multiple *attrs are used on the same element', () => {
         expect(() => parse('<div *ngIf *ngFor>', [])).toThrowError(`Template parse errors:
 Can't have multiple template bindings on one element. Use only one attribute named 'template' or prefixed with * ("<div *ngIf [ERROR ->]*ngFor>"): TestComp@0:11`);
       });
@@ -1630,11 +1694,18 @@ Parser Error: Unexpected token 'b' at column 3 in [a b] in TestComp@0:5 ("<div [
                      template: new CompileTemplateMetadata({ngContentSelectors: []})
                    })
                    .toSummary();
+
            expect(() => parse('<template [a]="b" (e)="f"></template>', [dirA]))
                .toThrowError(`Template parse errors:
 Event binding e not emitted by any directive on an embedded template. Make sure that the event name is spelled correctly and all directives are listed in the "@NgModule.declarations". ("<template [a]="b" [ERROR ->](e)="f"></template>"): TestComp@0:18
 Components on an embedded template: DirA ("[ERROR ->]<template [a]="b" (e)="f"></template>"): TestComp@0:0
 Property binding a not used by any directive on an embedded template. Make sure that the property name is spelled correctly and all directives are listed in the "@NgModule.declarations". ("[ERROR ->]<template [a]="b" (e)="f"></template>"): TestComp@0:0`);
+
+           expect(() => parse('<ng-template [a]="b" (e)="f"></ng-template>', [dirA]))
+               .toThrowError(`Template parse errors:
+Event binding e not emitted by any directive on an embedded template. Make sure that the event name is spelled correctly and all directives are listed in the "@NgModule.declarations". ("<ng-template [a]="b" [ERROR ->](e)="f"></ng-template>"): TestComp@0:21
+Components on an embedded template: DirA ("[ERROR ->]<ng-template [a]="b" (e)="f"></ng-template>"): TestComp@0:0
+Property binding a not used by any directive on an embedded template. Make sure that the property name is spelled correctly and all directives are listed in the "@NgModule.declarations". ("[ERROR ->]<ng-template [a]="b" (e)="f"></ng-template>"): TestComp@0:0`);
          });
 
       it('should not allow components or element bindings on inline embedded templates', () => {
@@ -1745,7 +1816,8 @@ Property binding a not used by any directive on an embedded template. Make sure
       it('should support embedded template', () => {
         expect(humanizeTplAstSourceSpans(parse('<template></template>', [
         ]))).toEqual([[EmbeddedTemplateAst, '<template>']]);
-
+        expect(humanizeTplAstSourceSpans(parse('<ng-template></ng-template>', [
+        ]))).toEqual([[EmbeddedTemplateAst, '<ng-template>']]);
       });
 
       it('should support element and attributes', () => {
@@ -1762,8 +1834,14 @@ Property binding a not used by any directive on an embedded template. Make sure
 
       it('should support variables', () => {
         expect(humanizeTplAstSourceSpans(parse('<template let-a="b"></template>', []))).toEqual([
-          [EmbeddedTemplateAst, '<template let-a="b">'], [VariableAst, 'a', 'b', 'let-a="b"']
+          [EmbeddedTemplateAst, '<template let-a="b">'],
+          [VariableAst, 'a', 'b', 'let-a="b"'],
         ]);
+        expect(humanizeTplAstSourceSpans(parse('<ng-template let-a="b"></ng-template>', [])))
+            .toEqual([
+              [EmbeddedTemplateAst, '<ng-template let-a="b">'],
+              [VariableAst, 'a', 'b', 'let-a="b"'],
+            ]);
       });
 
       it('should support events', () => {
@@ -1917,8 +1995,8 @@ The pipe 'test' could not be found ("{{[ERROR ->]a | test}}"): TestComp@0:2`);
       it('should expand plural messages', () => {
         const shortForm = '{ count, plural, =0 {small} many {big} }';
         const expandedForm = '<ng-container [ngPlural]="count">' +
-            '<template ngPluralCase="=0">small</template>' +
-            '<template ngPluralCase="many">big</template>' +
+            '<ng-template ngPluralCase="=0">small</ng-template>' +
+            '<ng-template ngPluralCase="many">big</ng-template>' +
             '</ng-container>';
 
         expect(humanizeTplAst(parse(shortForm, []))).toEqual(humanizeTplAst(parse(expandedForm, [
@@ -1928,8 +2006,8 @@ The pipe 'test' could not be found ("{{[ERROR ->]a | test}}"): TestComp@0:2`);
       it('should expand select messages', () => {
         const shortForm = '{ sex, select, female {foo} other {bar} }';
         const expandedForm = '<ng-container [ngSwitch]="sex">' +
-            '<template ngSwitchCase="female">foo</template>' +
-            '<template ngSwitchDefault>bar</template>' +
+            '<ng-template ngSwitchCase="female">foo</ng-template>' +
+            '<ng-template ngSwitchDefault>bar</ng-template>' +
             '</ng-container>';
 
         expect(humanizeTplAst(parse(shortForm, []))).toEqual(humanizeTplAst(parse(expandedForm, [
@@ -2057,10 +2135,6 @@ class TemplateHumanizer implements TemplateAstVisitor {
   }
 }
 
-function sourceInfo(ast: TemplateAst): string {
-  return `${ast.sourceSpan}: ${ast.sourceSpan.start}`;
-}
-
 function humanizeContentProjection(templateAsts: TemplateAst[]): any[] {
   const humanizer = new TemplateContentProjectionHumanizer();
   templateVisitAll(humanizer, templateAsts);
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/template_ref.ts b/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/template_ref.ts
index 649af6da3d..26f3cdb93e 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/template_ref.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/template_ref.ts
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ import {EmbeddedViewRef} from './view_ref';
 /**
  * Represents an Embedded Template that can be used to instantiate Embedded Views.
  *
- * You can access a `TemplateRef`, in two ways. Via a directive placed on a `<template>` element (or
- * directive prefixed with `*`) and have the `TemplateRef` for this Embedded View injected into the
- * constructor of the directive using the `TemplateRef` Token. Alternatively you can query for the
- * `TemplateRef` from a Component or a Directive via {@link Query}.
+ * You can access a `TemplateRef`, in two ways. Via a directive placed on a `<ng-template>` element
+ * (or directive prefixed with `*`) and have the `TemplateRef` for this Embedded View injected into
+ * the constructor of the directive using the `TemplateRef` Token. Alternatively you can query for
+ * the `TemplateRef` from a Component or a Directive via {@link Query}.
  *
  * To instantiate Embedded Views based on a Template, use
  * {@link ViewContainerRef#createEmbeddedView}, which will create the View and attach it to the
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/view_ref.ts b/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/view_ref.ts
index f546417044..f296191899 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/view_ref.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/view_ref.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export abstract class ViewRef extends ChangeDetectorRef {
  * ```
  * Count: {{items.length}}
  * <ul>
- *   <template ngFor let-item [ngForOf]="items"></template>
+ *   <ng-template ngFor let-item [ngForOf]="items"></ng-template>
  * </ul>
  * ```
  *
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export abstract class ViewRef extends ChangeDetectorRef {
  * <!-- ViewRef: outer-0 -->
  * Count: 2
  * <ul>
- *   <template view-container-ref></template>
+ *   <ng-template view-container-ref></ng-template>
  *   <!-- ViewRef: inner-1 --><li>first</li><!-- /ViewRef: inner-1 -->
  *   <!-- ViewRef: inner-2 --><li>second</li><!-- /ViewRef: inner-2 -->
  * </ul>
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/view_type.ts b/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/view_type.ts
index bce9a9ac59..8d9179f129 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/view_type.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/src/linker/view_type.ts
@@ -10,10 +10,8 @@ export enum ViewType {
   // A view that contains the host element with bound component directive.
   // Contains a COMPONENT view
   HOST,
-  // The view of the component
-  // Can contain 0 to n EMBEDDED views
+  // The view of the component can contain 0 to n EMBEDDED views
   COMPONENT,
-  // A view that is embedded into another View via a <template> element
-  // inside of a COMPONENT view
+  // A view is embedded into another View via a <ng-template> element inside of a COMPONENT view
   EMBEDDED
 }
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/test/application_ref_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/core/test/application_ref_spec.ts
index 34c4fe2c2e..ebe21cd52e 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/test/application_ref_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/test/application_ref_spec.ts
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ export function main() {
         vc: ViewContainerRef;
       }
 
-      @Component({template: '<template #t>Dynamic content</template>'})
+      @Component({template: '<ng-template #t>Dynamic content</ng-template>'})
       class EmbeddedViewComp {
         @ViewChild(TemplateRef)
         tplRef: TemplateRef<Object>;
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/change_detection_integration_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/change_detection_integration_spec.ts
index 945acdb7be..e969431f72 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/change_detection_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/change_detection_integration_spec.ts
@@ -485,8 +485,8 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
          fakeAsync(() => { expect(_bindAndCheckSimpleValue('"$"')).toEqual(['someProp=$']); }));
 
       it('should read locals', fakeAsync(() => {
-           const ctx =
-               createCompFixture('<template testLocals let-local="someLocal">{{local}}</template>');
+           const ctx = createCompFixture(
+               '<ng-template testLocals let-local="someLocal">{{local}}</ng-template>');
            ctx.detectChanges(false);
 
            expect(renderLog.log).toEqual(['{{someLocalValue}}']);
@@ -1242,7 +1242,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
 
       it('should recurse into nested view containers even if there are no bindings in the component view',
          () => {
-           @Component({template: '<template #vc>{{name}}</template>'})
+           @Component({template: '<ng-template #vc>{{name}}</ng-template>'})
            class Comp {
              name = 'Tom';
              @ViewChild('vc', {read: ViewContainerRef}) vc: ViewContainerRef;
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/direct_rendering_integration_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/direct_rendering_integration_spec.ts
index cc77aa303e..a805471c02 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/direct_rendering_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/direct_rendering_integration_spec.ts
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ export function main() {
     it('should support using structural directives with ngTemplateOutlet', () => {
       @Component({
         template:
-            '<child [templateCtx]="templateCtx"><template let-shown="shown" #tpl><span *ngIf="shown">hello</span></template></child>'
+            '<child [templateCtx]="templateCtx"><ng-template let-shown="shown" #tpl><span *ngIf="shown">hello</span></ng-template></child>'
       })
       class Parent {
         templateCtx = {shown: false};
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/integration_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/integration_spec.ts
index 0eb8d50a3a..9ccc2a8fc1 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/integration_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/integration_spec.ts
@@ -363,10 +363,10 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
         const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
       });
 
-      it('should support template directives via `<template>` elements.', () => {
+      it('should support template directives via `<ng-template>` elements.', () => {
         TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp, SomeViewport]});
         const template =
-            '<template some-viewport let-greeting="someTmpl"><span>{{greeting}}</span></template>';
+            '<ng-template some-viewport let-greeting="someTmpl"><span>{{greeting}}</span></ng-template>';
         TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
         const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
 
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
       it('should not share empty context for template directives - issue #10045', () => {
         TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp, PollutedContext, NoContext]});
         const template =
-            '<template pollutedContext let-foo="bar">{{foo}}</template><template noContext let-foo="bar">{{foo}}</template>';
+            '<ng-template pollutedContext let-foo="bar">{{foo}}</ng-template><ng-template noContext let-foo="bar">{{foo}}</ng-template>';
         TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
         const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
 
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
       it('should not detach views in ViewContainers when the parent view is destroyed.', () => {
         TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp, SomeViewport]});
         const template =
-            '<div *ngIf="ctxBoolProp"><template some-viewport let-greeting="someTmpl"><span>{{greeting}}</span></template></div>';
+            '<div *ngIf="ctxBoolProp"><ng-template some-viewport let-greeting="someTmpl"><span>{{greeting}}</span></ng-template></div>';
         TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
         const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
 
@@ -412,11 +412,11 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
         expect(fixture.debugElement.children.length).toBe(0);
       });
 
-      it('should use a comment while stamping out `<template>` elements.', () => {
-        TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp]});
-        const template = '<template></template>';
-        TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
-        const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
+      it('should use a comment while stamping out `<ng-template>` elements.', () => {
+        const fixture =
+            TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp]})
+                .overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template: '<ng-template></ng-template>'}})
+                .createComponent(MyComp);
 
         const childNodesOfWrapper = getDOM().childNodes(fixture.nativeElement);
         expect(childNodesOfWrapper.length).toBe(1);
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
           schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA],
         });
         const template =
-            '<some-directive><toolbar><template toolbarpart let-toolbarProp="toolbarProp">{{ctxProp}},{{toolbarProp}},<cmp-with-host></cmp-with-host></template></toolbar></some-directive>';
+            '<some-directive><toolbar><ng-template toolbarpart let-toolbarProp="toolbarProp">{{ctxProp}},{{toolbarProp}},<cmp-with-host></cmp-with-host></ng-template></toolbar></some-directive>';
         TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
         const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
 
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
            () => {
              TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp, ChildComp]});
              const template =
-                 '<template [ngIf]="true">{{alice.ctxProp}}</template>|{{alice.ctxProp}}|<child-cmp ref-alice></child-cmp>';
+                 '<ng-template [ngIf]="true">{{alice.ctxProp}}</ng-template>|{{alice.ctxProp}}|<child-cmp ref-alice></child-cmp>';
              TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
              const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
 
@@ -530,10 +530,10 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
         });
 
         it('should assign the TemplateRef to a user-defined variable', () => {
-          TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp]});
-          const template = '<template ref-alice></template>';
-          TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
-          const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
+          const fixture =
+              TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp]})
+                  .overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template: '<template ref-alice></template>'}})
+                  .createComponent(MyComp);
 
           const value = fixture.debugElement.childNodes[0].references['alice'];
           expect(value.createEmbeddedView).toBeTruthy();
@@ -552,14 +552,16 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
 
       describe('variables', () => {
         it('should allow to use variables in a for loop', () => {
-          TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp, ChildCompNoTemplate]});
           const template =
-              '<template ngFor [ngForOf]="[1]" let-i><child-cmp-no-template #cmp></child-cmp-no-template>{{i}}-{{cmp.ctxProp}}</template>';
-          TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
-          const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
+              '<ng-template ngFor [ngForOf]="[1]" let-i><child-cmp-no-template #cmp></child-cmp-no-template>{{i}}-{{cmp.ctxProp}}</ng-template>';
+
+          const fixture =
+              TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp, ChildCompNoTemplate]})
+                  .overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}})
+                  .createComponent(MyComp);
 
           fixture.detectChanges();
-          // Get the element at index 2, since index 0 is the <template>.
+          // Get the element at index 2, since index 0 is the <ng-template>.
           expect(getDOM().childNodes(fixture.nativeElement)[2]).toHaveText('1-hello');
         });
       });
@@ -774,11 +776,17 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
          }));
 
       it('should support events via EventEmitter on template elements', async(() => {
-           TestBed.configureTestingModule(
-               {declarations: [MyComp, DirectiveEmittingEvent, DirectiveListeningEvent]});
-           const template = '<template emitter listener (event)="ctxProp=$event"></template>';
-           TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
-           const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
+           const fixture =
+               TestBed
+                   .configureTestingModule(
+                       {declarations: [MyComp, DirectiveEmittingEvent, DirectiveListeningEvent]})
+                   .overrideComponent(MyComp, {
+                     set: {
+                       template:
+                           '<ng-template emitter listener (event)="ctxProp=$event"></ng-template>'
+                     }
+                   })
+                   .createComponent(MyComp);
 
            const tc = fixture.debugElement.childNodes[0];
 
@@ -1487,10 +1495,11 @@ function declareTests({useJit, viewEngine}: {useJit: boolean, viewEngine: boolea
       });
 
       it('should reflect property values on template comments', () => {
-        TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp]});
-        const template = '<template [ngIf]="ctxBoolProp"></template>';
-        TestBed.overrideComponent(MyComp, {set: {template}});
-        const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MyComp);
+        const fixture =
+            TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [MyComp]})
+                .overrideComponent(
+                    MyComp, {set: {template: '<ng-template [ngIf]="ctxBoolProp"></ng-template>'}})
+                .createComponent(MyComp);
 
         fixture.componentInstance.ctxBoolProp = true;
         fixture.detectChanges();
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/projection_integration_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/projection_integration_spec.ts
index 79e49e8290..8fc25e4642 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/projection_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/projection_integration_spec.ts
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
       TestBed.overrideComponent(MainComp, {
         set: {
           template: '<multiple-content-tags>' +
-              '<template manual class="left"><div>A1</div></template>' +
+              '<ng-template manual class="left"><div>A1</div></ng-template>' +
               '<div>B</div>' +
               '</multiple-content-tags>'
         }
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
       TestBed.overrideComponent(MainComp, {
         set: {
           template: '<outer>' +
-              '<template manual class="left"><div>A</div></template>' +
+              '<ng-template manual class="left"><div>A</div></ng-template>' +
               '<div>B</div>' +
               '<div>C</div>' +
               '</outer>'
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
       TestBed.overrideComponent(MainComp, {
         set: {
           template: '<empty>' +
-              '  <template manual><div>A</div></template>' +
+              ' <ng-template manual><div>A</div></ng-template>' +
               '</empty>' +
               'START(<div project></div>)END'
         }
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
           {declarations: [Empty, ProjectDirective, ManualViewportDirective]});
       TestBed.overrideComponent(MainComp, {
         set: {
-          template: '<simple><template manual><div>A</div></template></simple>' +
+          template: '<simple><ng-template manual><div>A</div></ng-template></simple>' +
               'START(<div project></div>)END'
         }
       });
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
         set: {
           template: '<conditional-content>' +
               '<div class="left">A</div>' +
-              '<template manual class="left">B</template>' +
+              '<ng-template manual class="left">B</ng-template>' +
               '<div class="left">C</div>' +
               '<div>D</div>' +
               '</conditional-content>'
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ class ConditionalContentComponent {
 @Component({
   selector: 'conditional-text',
   template:
-      'MAIN(<template manual>FIRST(<template manual>SECOND(<ng-content></ng-content>)</template>)</template>)',
+      'MAIN(<ng-template manual>FIRST(<ng-template manual>SECOND(<ng-content></ng-content>)</ng-template>)</ng-template>)',
 })
 class ConditionalTextComponent {
 }
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/query_integration_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/query_integration_spec.ts
index 2a22599190..67f9ed9513 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/query_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/query_integration_spec.ts
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
 
     describe('query for TemplateRef', () => {
       it('should find TemplateRefs in the light and shadow dom', () => {
-        const template = '<needs-tpl><template><div>light</div></template></needs-tpl>';
+        const template = '<needs-tpl><ng-template><div>light</div></ng-template></needs-tpl>';
         const view = createTestCmpAndDetectChanges(MyComp0, template);
         const needsTpl: NeedsTpl = view.debugElement.children[0].injector.get(NeedsTpl);
 
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
 
       it('should find named TemplateRefs', () => {
         const template =
-            '<needs-named-tpl><template #tpl><div>light</div></template></needs-named-tpl>';
+            '<needs-named-tpl><ng-template #tpl><div>light</div></ng-template></needs-named-tpl>';
         const view = createTestCmpAndDetectChanges(MyComp0, template);
         const needsTpl: NeedsNamedTpl = view.debugElement.children[0].injector.get(NeedsNamedTpl);
         expect(needsTpl.vc.createEmbeddedView(needsTpl.contentTpl).rootNodes[0])
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
 
       it('should support reading a ViewContainer', () => {
         const template =
-            '<needs-viewcontainer-read><template>hello</template></needs-viewcontainer-read>';
+            '<needs-viewcontainer-read><ng-template>hello</ng-template></needs-viewcontainer-read>';
         const view = createTestCmpAndDetectChanges(MyComp0, template);
 
         const comp: NeedsViewContainerWithRead =
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
 
       it('should contain all the elements in the light dom with the given var binding', () => {
         const template = '<needs-query-by-ref-binding #q>' +
-            '<div template="ngFor: let item of list">' +
+            '<div *ngFor="let item of list">' +
             '<div #textLabel>{{item}}</div>' +
             '</div>' +
             '</needs-query-by-ref-binding>';
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
     describe('query over moved templates', () => {
       it('should include manually projected templates in queries', () => {
         const template =
-            '<manual-projecting #q><template><div text="1"></div></template></manual-projecting>';
+            '<manual-projecting #q><ng-template><div text="1"></div></ng-template></manual-projecting>';
         const view = createTestCmpAndDetectChanges(MyComp0, template);
         const q = view.debugElement.children[0].references['q'];
         expect(q.query.length).toBe(0);
@@ -730,14 +730,15 @@ class NeedsViewQueryOrderWithParent {
   list: string[] = ['2', '3'];
 }
 
-@Component({selector: 'needs-tpl', template: '<template><div>shadow</div></template>'})
+@Component({selector: 'needs-tpl', template: '<ng-template><div>shadow</div></ng-template>'})
 class NeedsTpl {
   @ViewChildren(TemplateRef) viewQuery: QueryList<TemplateRef<Object>>;
   @ContentChildren(TemplateRef) query: QueryList<TemplateRef<Object>>;
   constructor(public vc: ViewContainerRef) {}
 }
 
-@Component({selector: 'needs-named-tpl', template: '<template #tpl><div>shadow</div></template>'})
+@Component(
+    {selector: 'needs-named-tpl', template: '<ng-template #tpl><div>shadow</div></ng-template>'})
 class NeedsNamedTpl {
   @ViewChild('tpl') viewTpl: TemplateRef<Object>;
   @ContentChild('tpl') contentTpl: TemplateRef<Object>;
@@ -767,7 +768,7 @@ class NeedsContentChildTemplateRef {
 @Component({
   selector: 'needs-content-child-template-ref-app',
   template: '<needs-content-child-template-ref>' +
-      '<template>OUTER<template>INNER</template></template>' +
+      '<ng-template>OUTER<ng-template>INNER</ng-template></ng-template>' +
       '</needs-content-child-template-ref>'
 })
 class NeedsContentChildTemplateRefApp {
diff --git a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/view_injector_integration_spec.ts b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/view_injector_integration_spec.ts
index 3652c485f4..9fd6477251 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/view_injector_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/core/test/linker/view_injector_integration_spec.ts
@@ -656,7 +656,8 @@ function createTests({viewEngine}: {viewEngine: boolean}) {
 
       it('should inject TemplateRef', () => {
         TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [NeedsViewContainerRef, NeedsTemplateRef]});
-        const el = createComponent('<template needsViewContainerRef needsTemplateRef></template>');
+        const el =
+            createComponent('<ng-template needsViewContainerRef needsTemplateRef></ng-template>');
         expect(el.childNodes[0].injector.get(NeedsTemplateRef).templateRef.elementRef)
             .toEqual(el.childNodes[0].injector.get(NeedsViewContainerRef).viewContainer.element);
       });
diff --git a/modules/@angular/examples/common/ngIf/ts/module.ts b/modules/@angular/examples/common/ngIf/ts/module.ts
index 881d802264..82e805a568 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/examples/common/ngIf/ts/module.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/examples/common/ngIf/ts/module.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class NgIfSimple {
     show = {{show}}
     <br>
     <div *ngIf="show; else elseBlock">Text to show</div>
-    <template #elseBlock>Alternate text while primary text is hidden</template>
+    <ng-template #elseBlock>Alternate text while primary text is hidden</ng-template>
 `
 })
 class NgIfElse {
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ class NgIfElse {
     show = {{show}}
     <br>
     <div *ngIf="show; then thenBlock; else elseBlock">this is ignored</div>
-    <template #primaryBlock>Primary text to show</template>
-    <template #secondaryBlock>Secondary text to show</template>
-    <template #elseBlock>Alternate text while primary text is hidden</template>
+    <ng-template #primaryBlock>Primary text to show</ng-template>
+    <ng-template #secondaryBlock>Secondary text to show</ng-template>
+    <ng-template #elseBlock>Alternate text while primary text is hidden</ng-template>
 `
 })
 class NgIfThenElse implements OnInit {
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class NgIfThenElse implements OnInit {
     <div *ngIf="userObservable | async; else loading; let user">
       Hello {{user.last}}, {{user.first}}!
     </div>
-    <template #loading let-user>Waiting... (user is {{user|json}})</template>
+    <ng-template #loading let-user>Waiting... (user is {{user|json}})</ng-template>
 `
 })
 class NgIfLet {
diff --git a/modules/@angular/examples/common/ngTemplateOutlet/ts/module.ts b/modules/@angular/examples/common/ngTemplateOutlet/ts/module.ts
index 2f38060751..84f4c99092 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/examples/common/ngTemplateOutlet/ts/module.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/examples/common/ngTemplateOutlet/ts/module.ts
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ import {Subject} from 'rxjs/Subject';
     <ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="svk; context: myContext"></ng-container>
     <hr>
     
-    <template #greet><span>Hello</span></template>
-    <template #eng let-name><span>Hello {{name}}!</span></template>
-    <template #svk let-person="localSk"><span>Ahoj {{person}}!</span></template>
+    <ng-template #greet><span>Hello</span></ng-template>
+    <ng-template #eng let-name><span>Hello {{name}}!</span></ng-template>
+    <ng-template #svk let-person="localSk"><span>Ahoj {{person}}!</span></ng-template>
 `
 })
 class NgTemplateOutletExample {
diff --git a/modules/benchmarks/src/largetable/ng2_switch/table.ts b/modules/benchmarks/src/largetable/ng2_switch/table.ts
index 4cea30d971..10b73f6539 100644
--- a/modules/benchmarks/src/largetable/ng2_switch/table.ts
+++ b/modules/benchmarks/src/largetable/ng2_switch/table.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ import {TableCell, emptyTable} from '../util';
   selector: 'largetable',
   template: `<table><tbody>
     <tr *ngFor="let row of data; trackBy: trackByIndex">
-    <template ngFor [ngForOf]="row" [ngForTrackBy]="trackByIndex" let-cell><ng-container [ngSwitch]="cell.row % 2">
+    <ng-template ngFor [ngForOf]="row" [ngForTrackBy]="trackByIndex" let-cell><ng-container [ngSwitch]="cell.row % 2">
         <td *ngSwitchCase="0" style="background-color: grey">{{cell.value}}</td><td *ngSwitchDefault>{{cell.value}}</td>
-    </ng-container></template>
+    </ng-container></ng-template>
     </tr>
   </tbody></table>`
 })