grado
/GRAH-doh/
degree
Grado as a unit of measurement for temperature, or degree.
📝 In Action
Hoy hace mucho calor; la temperatura subió a 35 grados.
A1It's very hot today; the temperature rose to 35 degrees.
El ángulo recto siempre tiene noventa grados.
A2A right angle always has ninety degrees.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural for Numbers
When talking about specific measurements (like 30 or 90), 'grado' must be used in its plural form: 'grados'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'nota' for temperature
Mistake: "La temperatura es 30 notas."
Correction: La temperatura es 30 grados. ('Nota' means a test score or a note, not a degree of temperature.)
Grado referring to an academic qualification, or university degree.
grado(noun)
degree
?academic qualification/university title
bachelor's degree
?in Spain and some Latin American countries
📝 In Action
Mi hermana está estudiando para obtener su grado en ingeniería.
B1My sister is studying to get her degree in engineering.
¿Qué grado tienes? ¿Una maestría o un doctorado?
B2What degree do you have? A master's or a doctorate?
💡 Grammar Points
Academic Levels
'Grado' usually refers to the first level of university education (like a Bachelor's). Higher levels are usually called 'maestría' (master's) or 'doctorado' (doctorate).
Grado meaning a level or year in school, like a grade level.
📝 In Action
Mi hija pasa a cuarto grado el próximo año escolar.
A2My daughter is moving to fourth grade next school year.
El segundo grado de primaria es fácil.
A2The second year of primary school is easy.
💡 Grammar Points
School vs. Score
Remember that 'grado' refers to the level of school (e.g., 5th year), while 'nota' or 'calificación' refers to the score you receive on a test (e.g., an A or a 90%).
Grado used to denote a level of intensity or extent.
grado(noun)
level
?intensity or extent
,rank
?position in a hierarchy
extent
?how much something affects something else
📝 In Action
Tenemos que evaluar el grado de riesgo antes de invertir.
B2We have to evaluate the level of risk before investing.
El conflicto ha alcanzado un alto grado de complejidad.
C1The conflict has reached a high degree of complexity.
💡 Grammar Points
Abstract Use
This meaning is often followed by 'de' plus an abstract concept (e.g., 'grado de dificultad,' 'grado de madurez').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: grado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'grado' to mean an academic qualification?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'grado' different from 'nota'?
'Grado' refers to the *level* you are in school (e.g., 'fifth grade') or a *measurement* (e.g., '30 degrees'). 'Nota' refers to the *score* or *mark* you get on a test (e.g., 'I got a good mark').
Can I use 'grado' to mean 'grade' in the sense of quality?
Not usually. While it can mean 'rank' or 'level,' if you want to say 'high-grade steel,' you would typically use words like 'calidad' (quality) or 'clase' (class). Stick to 'grado' for measurements, levels, and academic titles.