grados
/GRAH-dohs/
degrees
Grados (degrees) as units of measurement, often seen on a thermometer.
grados(noun)
degrees
?units of measurement (temperature, angle, alcohol content)
points
?as in points on a compass or scale
📝 In Action
Hoy la temperatura subió a treinta grados Celsius.
A1Today the temperature rose to thirty degrees Celsius.
Necesitas girar el tornillo cuarenta y cinco grados.
A2You need to turn the screw forty-five degrees.
El vino tiene trece grados de alcohol.
B1The wine has thirteen degrees of alcohol.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Hacer' for Weather
To talk about how hot or cold it is, Spanish uses the verb 'hacer' (to do/make), not 'ser' or 'estar'. You say: 'Hace veinte grados' (It is twenty degrees).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Es' instead of 'Hace'
Mistake: "Es veinte grados."
Correction: Hace veinte grados. Remember, 'hacer' is used for general weather conditions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Understanding Celsius
In most Spanish-speaking countries, temperatures are measured in Celsius (centígrados), not Fahrenheit, so be aware that 30 grados is quite hot!
Grados (degrees) referring to academic qualifications, like a university diploma.
grados(noun)
degrees
?academic qualifications (e.g., Bachelor's, Master's)
,ranks
?military or social hierarchy
levels
?stages or severity
,grades
?educational levels (less common than 'cursos' or 'años')
📝 In Action
Ella tiene dos grados universitarios: uno en arte y otro en historia.
B1She has two university degrees: one in art and one in history.
El ascenso le dio un nuevo grado militar.
B2The promotion gave him a new military rank.
La quemadura fue de tercer grado y requirió mucha atención.
C1The burn was third-degree and required a lot of attention.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Obtener un Grado'
To talk about getting or earning a qualification, you typically use the verbs 'obtener' (to obtain) or 'sacar' (to get/pull out).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Grado' and 'Clase'
Mistake: "Mis grados en la escuela son muy buenos. (Referring to school marks)"
Correction: Mis notas/calificaciones en la escuela son muy buenas. 'Grado' refers to the qualification level (like a Bachelor's), not usually the individual marks/grades.
⭐ Usage Tips
Levels of Education
In Spain, 'Grado' is specifically the name for the undergraduate university degree (like a Bachelor's). If you're talking about primary school levels, use 'curso' or 'año'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: grados
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'grados' to talk about academic achievement?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'grados' used to mean school grades (marks)?
Not usually. While it can mean 'grade level' (like first grade), it rarely means the score or mark you receive on a test. For test scores, use 'notas' or 'calificaciones'.
How do I know if 'grados' refers to temperature or a degree?
Context is key! If you see it used with numbers and weather words like 'calor' (heat) or 'frío' (cold), it means temperature. If you see it with 'universidad' or 'académico', it means an academic degree.