How to Say "ranks" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “ranks” is “filas” — use 'filas' when referring to a line of people or things waiting, such as in a queue or a military formation standing side-by-side..
filas
/FEE-lahs//ˈfilas/
Examples
Los soldados formaron filas para el desfile.
The soldiers formed ranks for the parade.
Hay largas filas en la entrada del cine.
There are long lines at the movie theater entrance.
Las sillas están organizadas en cinco filas.
The chairs are organized in five rows.
El joven se unió a las filas del ejército.
The young man joined the ranks of the army.
Plurality
This is the plural version of 'fila.' In Spanish, if there is more than one line, you add an 's' to the end.
Fila vs. Cola
Mistake: “Using 'fila' for every line.”
Correction: While 'fila' is understood everywhere, people in Spain often say 'cola' for waiting in line, while Latin Americans prefer 'fila'.
grados
/GRAH-dohs//ˈɡɾa.ðos/
Examples
El general ascendió a altos grados en el ejército.
The general rose to high ranks in the army.
Ella tiene dos grados universitarios: uno en arte y otro en historia.
She has two university degrees: one in art and one in history.
El ascenso le dio un nuevo grado militar.
The promotion gave him a new military rank.
La quemadura fue de tercer grado y requirió mucha atención.
The burn was third-degree and required a lot of attention.
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).
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.
Filas vs. Grados
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