Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Celsius in Spanish: Celsius
Celsius · noun · SEHL-see-oos
The temperature unit 'Celsius' remains 'Celsius' in Spanish, though many speakers still say 'centígrados' (centigrade) in everyday speech. All Spanish-speaking countries use the metric system, making Celsius the standard temperature scale for weather, cooking, and science.
SEHL-see-oos
Hoy la temperatura alcanzó treinta y cinco grados Celsius.
Today the temperature reached thirty-five degrees Celsius.
Celsius in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for celsius, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius | celsius | SEHL-see-oos | Default, widely understood |
| centígrados | celsius | traditional/older usage | |
| grados Celsius | celsius | full formal expression |
How Native Speakers Use Celsius
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Weather Report
El pronóstico anuncia máximas de cuarenta grados centígrados para mañana.
The forecast announces highs of forty degrees Celsius for tomorrow.
Uses the traditional 'centígrados' in a weather context.
Cooking
Precalienta el horno a ciento ochenta grados Celsius.
Preheat the oven to one hundred eighty degrees Celsius.
A standard recipe instruction using the formal term.
Science
El agua hierve a cien grados Celsius al nivel del mar.
Water boils at one hundred degrees Celsius at sea level.
States a fundamental scientific fact.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Celsius
Fahrenheit Assumption
Incorrect: Está a setenta grados afuera. (in a Celsius country)
Correct: Está a veintiún grados afuera.
All Spanish-speaking countries use Celsius; saying seventy degrees would imply an impossibly hot day since that exceeds the hottest recorded temperatures on Earth.
Plural of Celsius
Incorrect: Treinta Celsiuses.
Correct: Treinta grados Celsius.
'Celsius' as a proper name does not take a plural ending; the plural applies to 'grados' (degrees) while 'Celsius' remains invariable.
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See Celsius used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Celsius in Spanish
- Do Spanish speakers say 'centígrados' or 'Celsius'?
- Both are correct and interchangeable. 'Centígrados' remains more common in casual speech and older media, while 'Celsius' appears in scientific, technical, and modern journalistic contexts. Weather forecasters use both depending on the country and channel.
- How do I convert Fahrenheit to Celsius in Spanish?
- The formula expressed in Spanish is 'resta treinta y dos, multiplica por cinco, y divide entre nueve' (subtract 32, multiply by 5, divide by 9). This conversion comes up frequently when Spanish speakers interact with American recipes or weather data.
- Is 'grados' always needed before 'Celsius'?
- In complete sentences, yes—'grados Celsius' or 'grados centígrados' is the full unit. In informal shorthand like weather apps or quick speech, people often just say 'treinta y cinco grados' and drop 'Celsius' since the metric context is assumed.