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A close-up view of three perfectly separated groups of fruit on a surface: a pile of red apples, a pile of yellow bananas, and a pile of purple grapes, illustrating classification.

categoría

kah-teh-goh-REE-ah

NounfB1
category?classification or grouping,class?a division or type
Also:rank?level or position,caliber?level of quality or standard

📝 In Action

Los productos se dividen en tres categorías: A, B y C.

A2

The products are divided into three categories: A, B, and C.

Ella es una atleta de categoría mundial.

B1

She is an athlete of world-class caliber.

Necesitamos subir de categoría profesional para obtener un mejor salario.

B2

We need to move up in professional rank to get a better salary.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • primera categoría – first class / top standard
  • subir de categoría – to move up a rank

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun Pattern

Most Spanish nouns that end in '-ía' (like 'categoría,' 'alegría,' 'filosofía') are feminine and use the articles 'la' or 'una'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Gender

Mistake: "El categoría es importante."

Correction: La categoría es importante. (Remember that almost all abstract nouns ending in '-ía' are feminine.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing High Quality

You can use 'tener categoría' (to have category) or 'de primera categoría' to describe something or someone who is top-notch or highly respected.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: categoría

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'categoría' to mean 'high quality' or 'caliber'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

categorizar(to categorize) - verb
categórico(categorical / absolute) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'categoría' only refer to formal classifications?

No. While it is used in formal settings (sports ranks, job titles), you can also use it informally to describe the high quality or 'class' of a person or thing, like saying someone 'tiene mucha categoría' (has a lot of class/dignity).