cualificado
“cualificado” means “qualified” in Spanish (having the necessary skills or certificates for a job).
qualified
Also: skilled, competent
📝 In Action
Ella es una ingeniera muy cualificada.
A2She is a very qualified engineer.
Necesitamos personal cualificado para abrir la nueva fábrica.
B1We need qualified staff to open the new factory.
La empresa ofrece mejores salarios a la mano de obra cualificada.
B2The company offers better salaries to skilled labor.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cualificado
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct when talking about a female doctor?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'qualis' (of what kind) and the suffix '-ficare' (to make). It literally describes someone who has been 'made with quality' or 'made into a certain kind' of expert.
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cualificado' a verb or an adjective?
It is technically a past form of the verb 'cualificar', but it is almost always used as an adjective to describe people or jobs.
Can I use it to talk about my grades in school?
Not usually. For school grades, use 'calificación' (the noun) or 'calificar' (the verb). 'Cualificado' is specifically about having professional skills.
How do I say 'highly qualified'?
You say 'altamente cualificado' (for a man) or 'altamente cualificada' (for a woman).