Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Degrees in Spanish
Grados · noun · GRAH-dohs
The Spanish word for degrees is 'grados,' used for temperature, geometric angles, and levels of intensity. For academic degrees (like a bachelor's or master's), Spanish uses 'título' (diploma/degree) or 'licenciatura/maestría' for specific degree levels. The context determines which meaning applies.
Say GRAH-dohs with stress on the first syllable. The 'gr' cluster flows together smoothly, and the 'd' between vowels softens to a sound similar to the 'th' in 'this.' Singular form is 'grado' (GRAH-doh).
Hoy la temperatura alcanzó los treinta y cinco grados.
Today the temperature reached thirty-five degrees.
Degrees in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for degrees, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| grados | degrees | GRAH-dohs | Default, widely understood |
| títulos | degrees | academic degrees |
How Native Speakers Use Grados
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Temperature
Estamos a diez grados bajo cero esta mañana.
It's ten degrees below zero this morning.
Discussing weather temperature, noting Spanish-speaking countries predominantly use Celsius.
Academic degree
Acaba de obtener su título de maestría en ingeniería.
She just obtained her master's degree in engineering.
Using 'título' for academic degrees rather than 'grado' in most countries.
Geometric angle
Un ángulo recto mide noventa grados.
A right angle measures ninety degrees.
Mathematical usage where 'grados' refers to angle measurement.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Grados
Using 'grado' for academic degree universally
Incorrect: Tengo un grado en biología.
Correct: Tengo un título/una licenciatura en biología.
While 'grado' is used for academic degrees in Spain (influenced by the Bologna Process), most Latin American countries use 'título,' 'licenciatura,' or 'carrera' instead.
Forgetting Celsius vs Fahrenheit
Incorrect: Hoy estamos a ochenta grados. (meaning 80°F)
Correct: Hoy estamos a veintisiete grados. (27°C equivalent)
All Spanish-speaking countries use Celsius. Saying 'ochenta grados' means 80°C, which would indicate extreme heat far beyond normal weather.
Lock in Degrees Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Grados used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using grados in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Hoy la temperatura alcanzó los treinta y cinco grados. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Degrees in Spanish
- Do Spanish-speaking countries use Fahrenheit or Celsius?
- All Spanish-speaking countries use the Celsius scale exclusively for everyday temperature measurement, so when someone says 'treinta grados' they mean 30°C (approximately 86°F), and using Fahrenheit values would cause confusion.
- How do you say 'bachelor's degree' in Spanish?
- The most common equivalent is 'licenciatura' in Latin America or 'grado universitario' in Spain, though the specific terminology varies by country—Mexico uses 'licenciatura,' Argentina uses 'título de grado,' and Spain adopted 'grado' after educational reforms aligned with European standards.
- Is it 'grados centígrados' or 'grados Celsius'?
- Both terms are used and understood, though 'grados Celsius' is technically the scientifically correct term in modern usage, while 'grados centígrados' remains extremely common in everyday conversation and media throughout the Spanish-speaking world.