grados
“grados” means “degrees” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
degrees
Also: points
📝 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.
degrees, ranks
Also: levels, grades
📝 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.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: grados
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'grados' to talk about academic achievement?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin term *gradus*, which literally meant 'step,' 'pace,' or 'stage.' This explains why 'grados' is used both for steps on a scale (like temperature) and steps in education (like a degree).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.