grado
“grado” means “degree” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
degree
Also: mark
📝 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.
degree
Also: bachelor's degree
📝 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?
grade
Also: year
📝 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.
level, rank
Also: extent
📝 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.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: grado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'grado' to mean an academic qualification?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'grado' comes directly from the Latin word *gradus*, which meant 'step,' 'pace,' or 'stage.' This explains why it refers to a level, a step in education, or a marker on a scale.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
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.