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B1 verb 12 دقيقة للقراءة

calificar

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح calificar في 30 ثانية

الشرح calificar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'calificar' in its most basic form: grading a school test. Think of a teacher with a red pen. When you are in a Spanish class, you might ask, '¿Cuándo va a calificar el examen?' (When are you going to grade the exam?). At this stage, don't worry about the complex meanings like 'labeling' or 'legal status.' Just focus on the connection between a teacher and a student's work. It is a regular '-ar' verb, so it follows the same pattern as 'hablar' or 'estudiar.' You will mostly use it in the present tense (yo califico, tú calificas) or the simple future (va a calificar). Remember that the noun form is 'calificación,' which means 'grade.' If you get a 10, that is your 'calificación.' This word is essential for any student beginning their journey in a Spanish-speaking school or language course.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the A2 level, you can start using 'calificar' to talk about competitions and sports, which is very common in daily conversation. You might say, 'Mi equipo calificó para el torneo' (My team qualified for the tournament). You are also becoming more familiar with describing things. You might use 'calificar' to give a simple opinion: 'Calificaron la comida de excelente' (They rated the food as excellent). Notice the use of 'de' before the adjective. This is a small but important step toward more natural Spanish. You should also be able to use the past tense (pretérito perfecto) to talk about grades you already received: 'El profesor calificó mi ensayo ayer.' At this level, you are moving from just school contexts to social and recreational ones, like talking about a football match or a restaurant review.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance between 'calificar' and similar verbs like 'evaluar' or 'clasificar.' You are expected to use 'calificar' to describe people's character or actions in more detail. For example, 'Lo calificaron de egoísta por no compartir su comida.' You are also comfortable using it in professional or official contexts, such as 'calificar para un préstamo' (qualifying for a loan). This level requires you to handle the preposition 'de' consistently and to understand that 'calificar' implies a judgment of value. You might also encounter the passive 'se' more often: 'Se calificó la propuesta como interesante.' You are now using the word to express more complex opinions and to navigate adult responsibilities like banking or job applications.

At the B2 level, 'calificar' becomes a tool for sophisticated analysis. You use it to discuss how the media or society labels certain groups or events. You might say, 'La prensa calificó el discurso de populista.' You understand the subtle differences in meaning depending on whether 'de' or 'como' is used. You also use 'calificar' in the context of professional certifications and legal eligibility. For instance, 'Para calificar como traductor jurado, hay que pasar un examen difícil.' At this stage, you should be able to use the word in the subjunctive to express desires or doubts about evaluations: 'No creo que el juez califique el acto como un crimen.' Your vocabulary is becoming more precise, and you use 'calificar' to provide clear, categorized judgments in both speech and writing.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C1 level, you recognize 'calificar' as a powerful verb of categorization and social construction. You use it to debate philosophical or political labels. You might analyze how a historian 'califica' a certain era or how a philosopher 'califica' a human behavior. You are also aware of high-level synonyms like 'tildar' or 'tachar' and can choose 'calificar' when you want to sound objective and formal. You can handle complex sentence structures, such as 'La rapidez con la que se calificó el incidente de fortuito levantó sospechas.' You use the word to navigate nuances in professional reports, legal arguments, and literary criticism. Your understanding of the word is no longer just about 'grades' but about the power of language to define the nature of reality.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C2 level, 'calificar' is used with total precision and stylistic flair. You can use it in highly specialized fields like law, where 'calificación jurídica' is a technical term for determining the specific legal nature of an act. You understand the historical etymology of the word and how it relates to the concept of 'quality' (cualidad). You can use it ironically or metaphorically in literature or high-level journalism. For example, 'Calificar su silencio de elocuente sería quedarse corto.' You are a master of the prepositions and can switch between 'de,' 'como,' or no preposition at all to achieve specific rhetorical effects. Your use of 'calificar' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker, used to provide definitive, nuanced, and authoritative evaluations in any context.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح

calificar في 30 ثانية

Calificar primarily means 'to grade' an academic assignment or 'to score' a performance in a formal setting.
It is frequently used to 'label' or 'describe' people, usually followed by the preposition 'de' and an adjective.
In sports and finance, it means 'to qualify' or 'to be eligible' for a specific event, loan, or status.
The noun form 'calificación' refers to the actual grade or the act of qualifying for something.

The Spanish verb calificar is a multifaceted term that English speakers often encounter in academic, professional, and competitive contexts. At its most fundamental level, it translates to 'to grade,' 'to score,' or 'to qualify.' However, its usage extends far beyond the simple act of a teacher marking a test. Understanding calificar requires recognizing three primary conceptual pillars: evaluation, classification, and eligibility.

In an academic setting, calificar is the standard term for assigning a grade. When a professor reviews an essay, they are engaged in the process of calificación. Unlike the English word 'qualify,' which can sometimes be vague, the Spanish calificar in school settings is very specific to the numerical or categorical assessment of performance.

Academic Context: Used when a teacher assigns a numerical value (like a 7 out of 10) or a letter grade to a student's work.

Beyond the classroom, the word is used to describe or label someone or something. This is the 'labeling' function. If you describe a situation as 'unacceptable,' you are calificando that situation. In this sense, it often appears with the preposition de. For example, 'Lo calificaron de héroe' means 'They described him as a hero' or 'They qualified him as a hero.' This is a higher-level usage (B2/C1) where the speaker is assigning a quality or attribute to a subject.

El crítico decidió calificar la película como una obra maestra del cine contemporáneo.

The third pillar is eligibility, particularly in sports or professional certifications. When an athlete performs well enough to enter the Olympic Games, they califican for the event. This mirrors the English 'to qualify.' It implies that the subject has met certain criteria or standards necessary to proceed to a next stage or to hold a specific title.

In legal or official documents, calificar might refer to the determination of the nature of a crime or a legal status. For instance, a judge might calificar a homicide as 'premeditated.' This shows the word's power in formal categorization.

Legal Usage: The formal act of defining the legal character of a fact or an act.

Finally, it is important to distinguish calificar from clasificar (to classify/sort). While they sound similar, calificar implies a judgment of quality or value, whereas clasificar usually refers to organization and arrangement. If you sort books by genre, you clasificas them. If you say a book is excellent, you calificas the book.

No es justo calificar a todo el grupo por el error de una sola persona.

In summary, use calificar when you are judging, grading, labeling, or meeting requirements. It is a word of assessment and standards. Whether you are a student waiting for a grade, an athlete trying to reach the finals, or a critic writing a review, calificar is the verb that bridges the gap between an action and its assigned value.

Social Labeling: When society or a group assigns a reputation or a specific adjective to an individual based on their behavior.

Mastering the syntax of calificar involves understanding the prepositions that typically follow it. Depending on the meaning you intend, the structure of the sentence will change significantly.

When using calificar to mean 'to grade' an object, it is a simple transitive verb. You 'calificar algo' (grade something). For example, 'El profesor califica los exámenes los fines de semana.' Here, 'los exámenes' is the direct object. This is the most straightforward use and is common in all levels of Spanish proficiency.

Espero que el maestro termine de calificar nuestras tareas pronto.

When the meaning shifts to 'labeling' or 'describing' someone as something, the preposition de is almost always required. The pattern is: calificar a alguien de [adjetivo/sustantivo]. For instance, 'Muchos lo califican de genio.' (Many describe him as a genius). Without the 'de', the sentence would feel incomplete or grammatically incorrect in this context.

Labeling Pattern: Verbo + Objeto Directo + 'de' + Atributo. Example: 'Calificaron la propuesta de absurda.'

In the context of sports and competitions, calificar often takes the preposition para. This indicates the goal or the event for which one is becoming eligible. 'El equipo calificó para la final' (The team qualified for the final). Note that in some regions, especially in Spain, the verb clasificarse is more common for sports qualification, while in Latin America, calificar is widely used.

Another important structure involves the passive voice or impersonal 'se.' In formal reports, you might see 'Se calificó la actuación del gobierno como deficiente.' (The government's performance was rated as deficient). Here, como is used instead of de, which is also a valid way to introduce a description, though de is more traditional for personal attributes.

Formal Evaluation: Using 'como' to provide a detailed evaluation in professional reports or journalism.

The reflexive form calificarse can be used when someone describes themselves. 'Ella se califica de perfeccionista' (She describes herself as a perfectionist). This is useful for self-introductions or psychological contexts.

Para calificar para el préstamo, usted debe presentar sus ingresos mensuales.

In summary, remember: 1. No preposition for grading objects. 2. Use 'de' for labeling people or things with adjectives. 3. Use 'para' for qualifying for events. 4. Use 'como' for formal classifications. Mastering these four paths will make your use of calificar sound natural and precise.

Eligibility Requirements: Often used in banking or legal contexts to see if a person 'califica' (qualifies) for a benefit.

¿Cómo podrías calificar el impacto de la tecnología en la educación?

You will hear calificar in a variety of real-world scenarios, ranging from the stressful halls of a university to the high-stakes environment of an international sports stadium.

In the educational world, the end of a semester is dominated by this verb. Students will ask each other, '¿Ya te calificaron el examen?' (Have they graded your exam yet?). Teachers, on the other hand, might complain about the mountain of papers they have to calificar. This is perhaps the most frequent everyday use of the word.

Academic Reality: The process of 'calificación' is central to the Hispanic education system, often involving a scale of 0 to 10 or 1 to 5.

In the realm of sports, specifically during the World Cup or the Olympics, commentators use calificar constantly. They discuss which teams have the points necessary to calificar for the next round. 'México necesita ganar para calificar' (Mexico needs to win to qualify). In this context, it is synonymous with reaching a standard of excellence.

El atleta logró calificar a los juegos olímpicos tras una carrera impresionante.

Turning to the media and political discourse, calificar is used to frame narratives. Journalists often say, 'El presidente calificó la protesta de ilegal' (The president described the protest as illegal). This use of the word is powerful because it involves the act of defining reality through language. It is not just an observation; it is a formal declaration of status.

In professional settings, particularly in Human Resources or Finance, calificar appears when discussing job candidates or loan applicants. '¿Califica ella para el puesto?' (Does she qualify for the position?). Here, it refers to the objective matching of a person's skills to a set of requirements.

Professional Standards: Used to determine if someone meets the 'requisitos' (requirements) for a specific role or benefit.

You will also encounter it in legal dramas or real court news. A judge might calificar an action as 'negligencia' (negligence). This legal 'calificación' determines the severity of the punishment.

El juez debe calificar el delito antes de dictar la sentencia final.

Finally, in everyday conversation, people use it to express opinions about others' behavior. 'No sé cómo calificar su actitud, fue muy extraña' (I don't know how to describe his attitude, it was very strange). It serves as a tool for social evaluation.

Interpersonal Judgment: Expressing difficulty in finding the right word to describe a person's unique or confusing behavior.

Muchos ciudadanos optaron por calificar la gestión como excelente en la encuesta.

For English speakers, the most common pitfall with calificar is the 'false friend' trap and prepositional errors.

First, there is the confusion between calificar and clasificar. Because 'qualify' and 'classify' sound somewhat similar in English, learners often swap them in Spanish. Remember: Clasificar is for organizing (like folders in a cabinet), while calificar is for judging quality or eligibility. If you say 'Voy a calificar mis archivos,' you are saying you will give your files a grade (A, B, C), which is likely not what you mean if you just want to organize them.

The 'Clasificar' Trap: Avoid using 'calificar' when you mean 'to sort' or 'to organize.' Use 'clasificar' or 'ordenar' instead.

Second is the omission of the preposition de when labeling people. In English, we say 'They called him a liar.' In Spanish, you cannot simply say 'Lo calificaron un mentiroso.' You must say 'Lo calificaron de mentiroso.' This small word 'de' is essential for the sentence to be grammatically sound.

Error: Lo calificaron un traidor.
Correcto: Lo calificaron de traidor.

Third, learners often struggle with the difference between calificar and graduar. In English, we 'grade' a paper, but we also 'graduate' from school. In Spanish, these are two completely different verbs. Calificar is for the paper; graduarse is for the student finishing their studies. Never say 'Voy a graduar este examen'—that would mean you are giving the exam a diploma!

Another mistake involves the use of calificar for 'qualifying a statement.' In English, you might 'qualify your answer' by adding conditions. In Spanish, calificar doesn't usually carry this specific meaning of 'limiting' or 'modifying' a statement. Instead, use matizar. If you want to add nuances to an argument, you matizas your argument.

Nuance vs. Grade: Use 'matizar' for adding nuances/limitations. Use 'calificar' for assigning a value or description.

Finally, watch out for the reflexive usage in sports. While 'He qualified' is common in English, in Spanish, especially in Spain, you often need the reflexive: 'Él se clasificó.' Using 'Él calificó' is very common in Latin America but might sound slightly 'anglicized' to a Spaniard.

No confunda calificar (grade) con clasificar (sort/rank in sports).

To avoid these mistakes, always ask yourself: Am I assigning a grade/label, or am I organizing? Am I describing a person, or adding nuances to a thought? This clarity will guide you to the correct verb.

Preposition Summary: Calificar + objeto (grade). Calificar + de + adjetivo (label). Calificar + para (eligible).

Es un error común calificar a alguien sin conocer sus verdaderas intenciones.

To truly master calificar, you should know its synonyms and how they differ in nuance. Spanish is rich with verbs of evaluation, and choosing the right one can elevate your fluency.

Evaluar is the most direct alternative. While calificar often refers to the final act of giving a grade, evaluar refers to the whole process of assessment. A teacher evalúa a student's progress over a month and then califica the final exam.

Calificar vs. Evaluar: Calificar = result/grade. Evaluar = process/assessment.

Puntuar is another common synonym, especially in Spain. It literally means 'to give points.' If a gymnast performs a routine, the judges puntúan the performance. It is more numerical than calificar, which can also be descriptive.

El jurado va a puntuar cada movimiento de los participantes con mucho cuidado.

When you want to 'label' someone, especially in a negative or critical way, tildar or tachar are excellent high-level alternatives. 'Lo tildaron de mentiroso' (They branded him a liar). These verbs carry a stronger emotional weight than the relatively neutral calificar.

Tildar / Tachar: Used for labeling someone with a specific (often negative) quality. Pattern: Tildar + a alguien + de + adjetivo.

For the sense of 'qualifying' in sports or for a job, clasificarse (in Spain) or reunir los requisitos (to meet the requirements) are great alternatives. 'Reunir los requisitos' is more formal and precise in business contexts.

Habilitar is another related word, meaning 'to qualify' in the sense of 'to empower' or 'to authorize.' If a degree habilita you to practice medicine, it means it gives you the legal right to do so. This is different from calificar, which is more about the evaluation of your skill.

Habilitar vs. Calificar: Habilitar = giving legal/official authority. Calificar = judging quality or meeting a standard.

In literary or very formal contexts, you might see denominar. While it means 'to name,' it is often used similarly to calificar when defining a concept. 'Podemos denominar este periodo como la Edad de Oro.'

Es difícil denominar este fenómeno sin caer en simplificaciones excesivas.

Choosing between these words depends on your intent: Use evaluar for the process, puntuar for numbers, tildar for critical labeling, and habilitar for legal authorization. This variety will make your Spanish sound nuanced and sophisticated.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The word 'calificar' and 'quality' come from the same root. When you 'calificar' something, you are literally stating its 'quality'.

دليل النطق

UK /kælɪfɪˈkɑːr/

US /ˌkæləfəˈkɑr/

The stress is on the last syllable: ca-li-fi-CAR.

يتقافى مع

hablar amar caminar llegar estudiar pensar mirar actuar

أخطاء شائعة

Pronouncing the 'c' as 's' (it should be 'k').
Stressing the second-to-last syllable instead of the last.
Making the 'i' sounds too short like in 'bit' (they should be 'ee').
English speakers often forget to tap the 'r' at the end.
Mispronouncing the 'a' as a schwa (it should be a clear 'ah').

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 3/5

Easy to recognize due to English cognates like 'qualify' and 'classify'.

الكتابة 4/5

Requires knowledge of specific prepositions like 'de' and 'para'.

التحدث 3/5

Commonly used, but the 'r' at the end needs practice for native-like flow.

الاستماع 2/5

Usually clear in context, especially in school or sports settings.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

examen nota maestro bueno malo

تعلّم لاحقاً

evaluar clasificar requisito aptitud desempeño

متقدم

tildar tachar matizar ponderar habilitar

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Prepositional Verbs

Calificar siempre lleva 'de' cuando se refiere a un atributo personal: 'Lo califican de sabio'.

Direct Object Pronouns

Cuando el objeto es una persona, usamos 'lo/la': 'Lo calificaron de tonto'.

Personal 'a'

Usamos 'a' antes de personas específicas: 'Calificaron a María de excelente'.

Passive 'se'

Para acciones impersonales: 'Se calificó la obra como innovadora'.

Infinitive as Noun

El calificar exámenes puede ser agotador.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

El profesor va a calificar los exámenes.

The teacher is going to grade the exams.

Simple future: ir + a + infinitive.

¿Cómo calificas tu día?

How do you rate your day?

Present tense, informal 'tú'.

Ella califica las tareas hoy.

She grades the homework today.

Regular -ar verb conjugation.

Nosotros calificamos los dibujos.

We grade the drawings.

First person plural 'nosotros'.

Ellos califican con números.

They grade with numbers.

Third person plural 'ellos'.

Tengo que calificar este libro.

I have to rate this book.

Tener + que + infinitive.

¿Quién califica la comida?

Who rates the food?

Interrogative pronoun 'quién'.

Usted califica muy bien.

You grade very well.

Formal 'usted'.

Mi equipo calificó para la final.

My team qualified for the final.

Preterite tense for completed action.

Calificaron la película de aburrida.

They rated the movie as boring.

Use of 'de' for labeling.

¿Calificaste para el descuento?

Did you qualify for the discount?

Preterite 'tú' form.

El juez calificó el baile con un diez.

The judge rated the dance with a ten.

Direct object 'el baile'.

No calificamos para el crédito bancario.

We didn't qualify for the bank credit.

Negative sentence with 'no'.

Ella calificó las fotos de hermosas.

She described the photos as beautiful.

Labeling with 'de'.

Los estudiantes quieren calificar sus cursos.

The students want to rate their courses.

Infinitive after 'querer'.

Él calificó de difícil el examen.

He described the exam as difficult.

Word order variation.

Muchos lo califican de genio incomprendido.

Many describe him as a misunderstood genius.

Direct object pronoun 'lo'.

¿Califica esta empresa para el subsidio?

Does this company qualify for the subsidy?

Verb 'calificar' used for eligibility.

El crítico calificó su actuación de mediocre.

The critic rated her performance as mediocre.

Evaluation of quality.

Es necesario calificar los riesgos antes de empezar.

It is necessary to assess the risks before starting.

Impersonal 'es necesario'.

Se calificó la huelga como un éxito total.

The strike was rated as a total success.

Passive 'se' construction.

No puedes calificar a todos por igual.

You cannot judge everyone the same.

Personal 'a' before 'todos'.

El banco calificó mi perfil de bajo riesgo.

The bank rated my profile as low risk.

Financial context.

Ella se califica de persona muy paciente.

She describes herself as a very patient person.

Reflexive 'se califica'.

La prensa no tardó en calificar el evento de desastre.

The press didn't take long to label the event a disaster.

Idiom 'no tardar en'.

Para calificar para la beca, se requiere un promedio alto.

To qualify for the scholarship, a high average is required.

Conditional context.

El gobierno calificó la situación de emergencia nacional.

The government labeled the situation a national emergency.

Formal declaration.

Dudo que el comité califique su propuesta positivamente.

I doubt the committee will rate your proposal positively.

Subjunctive mood after 'dudo que'.

Podemos calificar este estilo de vanguardista.

We can describe this style as avant-garde.

Artistic categorization.

El software ayuda a calificar los leads de venta.

The software helps to qualify sales leads.

Business technical term.

Siempre lo califican de pesimista, pero es realista.

They always label him a pessimist, but he is a realist.

Contrastive conjunction 'pero'.

La ley califica este acto como una infracción grave.

The law classifies this act as a serious infraction.

Legal terminology.

Resulta arriesgado calificar la obra de puramente política.

It is risky to label the work as purely political.

Adverb 'puramente' modifying the label.

El informe califica la gestión de la crisis de deficiente.

The report describes the crisis management as deficient.

Formal reporting style.

Sería injusto calificar su silencio como falta de interés.

It would be unfair to characterize his silence as a lack of interest.

Conditional 'sería' for hypothetical judgment.

La rapidez con la que calificó el gol fue asombrosa.

The speed with which he validated/scored the goal was amazing.

Relative clause 'con la que'.

No me atrevería a calificar su teoría de errónea todavía.

I wouldn't dare to label his theory as erroneous yet.

Negative conditional with 'atreverse'.

El autor califica la modernidad de jaula de hierro.

The author describes modernity as an iron cage.

Metaphorical usage.

Es difícil calificar el impacto emocional de la noticia.

It is hard to assess the emotional impact of the news.

Abstract evaluation.

Se le calificó de visionario tras el éxito de su invento.

He was labeled a visionary after the success of his invention.

Passive voice with indirect object 'le'.

La jurisprudencia tiende a calificar estos supuestos de dolo.

Case law tends to classify these cases as fraudulent intent.

Highly technical legal term 'dolo'.

Calificar su prosa de barroca es una simplificación excesiva.

To describe his prose as baroque is an excessive simplification.

Infinitive as a subject.

El historiador califica el tratado de papel mojado.

The historian describes the treaty as a 'worthless piece of paper'.

Idiomatic expression 'papel mojado'.

Resulta imperativo calificar la idoneidad de los candidatos.

It is imperative to assess the suitability of the candidates.

Formal adjective 'imperativo'.

Se ha procedido a calificar el suelo como urbanizable.

The land has been classified as developable.

Administrative/urban planning context.

No se puede calificar de baladí la repercusión de este hallazgo.

The impact of this discovery cannot be labeled as trivial.

Sophisticated adjective 'baladí'.

El crítico se negó a calificar la obra, alegando su complejidad.

The critic refused to rate the work, citing its complexity.

Gerund 'alegando' for reasoning.

La calificación de los hechos determinará la pena impuesta.

The classification of the facts will determine the sentence imposed.

Noun form 'calificación' in a legal sense.

تلازمات شائعة

calificar un examen

calificar para un préstamo

calificar de injusto

calificar como éxito

calificar la conducta

calificar para la final

calificar los riesgos

calificar de excelente

calificar a alguien

calificar una falta

العبارات الشائعة

calificar de

— To label someone as something. Used with an adjective.

Lo calificaron de traidor.

calificar para

— To meet the requirements for something. Common in sports and banking.

Ella califica para la beca.

calificar como

— To categorize something as a certain type. More formal.

Se calificó como un evento histórico.

sin calificar

— Ungraded or unrated. Used for tests or movies.

Tengo tres exámenes sin calificar.

difícil de calificar

— Hard to describe or categorize.

Su estilo es difícil de calificar.

calificar por

— To judge based on a specific criteria.

No me califiques por mi apariencia.

volver a calificar

— To re-grade or re-evaluate.

El alumno pidió volver a calificar su ensayo.

calificar positivamente

— To give a good rating or feedback.

El jefe calificó positivamente mi trabajo.

calificar negativamente

— To give a bad rating or feedback.

Los usuarios calificaron negativamente la app.

calificar la idoneidad

— To assess if someone is suitable for a role.

Debemos calificar la idoneidad del terreno.

يُخلط عادةً مع

calificar vs clasificar

Clasificar is for organizing into groups; calificar is for assigning a quality or grade.

calificar vs graduar

Graduar is for completing a degree; calificar is for grading a specific assignment.

calificar vs evaluar

Evaluar is the broader process of assessment; calificar is the specific act of giving the result.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"calificar de arriba abajo"

— To judge someone thoroughly and often critically from head to toe.

Me calificó de arriba abajo con la mirada.

Informal

"no tener calificación"

— To be so bad or so good that it cannot be described; beyond words.

Su mala educación no tiene calificación.

Neutral

"dar la calificación"

— To provide the final verdict or grade.

El jurado ya dio la calificación final.

Neutral

"calificar con lupa"

— To grade or evaluate something extremely carefully and minutely.

El profesor califica con lupa cada detalle.

Informal

"poner calificación"

— To assign a grade (synonym for calificar).

Es hora de poner calificación a los proyectos.

Neutral

"calificar al voleo"

— To grade or judge quickly and without much care.

Parece que calificó los exámenes al voleo.

Colloquial

"calificar de oídas"

— To judge someone based on rumors rather than personal experience.

No la califiques de oídas, conócela primero.

Neutral

"calificar por lo bajo"

— To give a lower grade or rating than deserved.

Creo que me calificaron por lo bajo esta vez.

Informal

"calificar por lo alto"

— To give a higher grade or rating than deserved.

El maestro suele calificar por lo alto a sus favoritos.

Informal

"calificar de memoria"

— To grade based on what one remembers rather than looking at the work.

No puedes calificar de memoria, revisa el papel.

Neutral

سهل الخلط

calificar vs cualificar

It is a rare synonym for 'calificar'.

In modern Spanish, 'calificar' is used 99% of the time. 'Cualificar' sounds archaic or overly technical.

Él está cualificado para el puesto (He is qualified for the job - usually replaced by 'calificado').

calificar vs puntuar

Both involve giving a score.

Puntuar is strictly for numerical points; calificar can be descriptive (excellent, bad).

El juez puntuó con un 8.

calificar vs tildar

Both mean to label.

Tildar is almost always negative; calificar can be positive or negative.

Lo tildaron de mentiroso.

calificar vs tachar

Both mean to label.

Tachar implies marking someone with a negative 'stigma'.

Lo tacharon de cobarde.

calificar vs matizar

English 'qualify' can mean to add nuance.

Spanish 'calificar' does not mean to add nuance; 'matizar' does.

Quiero matizar mis palabras (I want to qualify/add nuance to my words).

أنماط الجُمل

Sujeto + califica + objeto.

El maestro califica el test.

Sujeto + calificó + para + meta.

Ella calificó para la carrera.

Sujeto + lo/la + califica + de + adjetivo.

Ellos lo califican de raro.

Se + calificó + objeto + como + atributo.

Se calificó el plan como viable.

Resulta + adjetivo + calificar + objeto + de + atributo.

Resulta difícil calificar su obra de sencilla.

La calificación de + sustantivo + como + sustantivo.

La calificación del hecho como asesinato fue clave.

No + calificar + a alguien + por + sustantivo.

No califiques a la gente por su ropa.

Calificar + con + número.

Calificó el examen con un cinco.

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

calificación (grade/rating)

calificador (grader/judge)

descalificación (disqualification)

الأفعال

descalificar (to disqualify)

recalificar (to re-grade/re-zone land)

الصفات

calificado (qualified/skilled)

calificativo (qualifying/descriptive)

descalificado (disqualified)

مرتبط

calidad (quality)

cualidad (characteristic)

cualitativo (qualitative)

clase (class)

clasificar (to classify)

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كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Very common in academic and sports contexts; moderately common in general conversation.

أخطاء شائعة

Voy a graduar el examen. → Voy a calificar el examen.
Graduar means to graduate from school. Calificar means to grade a paper.
Lo calificaron un mentiroso. → Lo calificaron de mentiroso.
You must use the preposition 'de' when labeling someone with a noun or adjective.
Él calificó para la universidad. → Él entró/fue admitido en la universidad.
Calificar is for eligibility or grades, but for entering university, we use 'ser admitido'.
Voy a calificar mis libros por autor. → Voy a clasificar mis libros por autor.
Use 'clasificar' for organizing and 'calificar' for judging quality.
No califico para hablar. → No estoy capacitado para hablar.
In English you might say 'I am not qualified to speak,' but in Spanish 'calificar' isn't used for personal skill level in that way.

نصائح

The 'DE' Rule

Always use 'de' when assigning a label to a person. 'Lo calificaron de héroe' is correct; 'Lo calificaron un héroe' is wrong.

Beyond Grades

Remember that 'calificar' is for any type of evaluation, not just school. You can calificar a movie, a meal, or a person's behavior.

Stress the End

The word ends in 'AR', so make sure the stress is on the last syllable: ca-li-fi-CAR.

Regional Differences

In Spain, you might hear 'clasificarse' for sports, while in Mexico you will hear 'calificar'.

Formal Reports

In business writing, use 'calificar como' to sound more professional when evaluating results.

Context Clues

If you hear 'calificar' followed by a number, they are definitely talking about grades or scores.

Quality Connection

Link 'calificar' to 'quality'. You are literally 'making a quality' judgment.

Personal 'A'

When qualifying a specific person, don't forget the 'a': 'Calificaron a Juan de valiente'.

Self-Description

Use the reflexive 'Me califico de...' in interviews to describe your own strengths.

Noun Form

The noun is 'calificación'. Use it to ask '¿Cuál fue tu calificación?' (What was your grade?).

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of a 'CALI'brated 'FI'le for a 'CAR'. You need to 'calificar' (grade) the car's performance to see if it's high quality.

ربط بصري

Imagine a teacher holding a giant red stamp that says 'CALIFICADO' (Graded) and pressing it onto a paper.

Word Web

Examen Nota Profesor Deporte Final Etiqueta Adjetivo Requisito

تحدٍّ

Try to use 'calificar' three times today: once for a grade, once to describe a person, and once to talk about qualifying for a goal.

أصل الكلمة

Derived from the Latin 'qualificare', which is a compound of 'qualis' (of what sort/quality) and 'facere' (to make or do). It literally means 'to make or assign a quality'.

المعنى الأصلي: To attribute a quality or property to something.

Romance (Latin-based).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful when using 'calificar de...' as it can sound judgmental or like you are stereotyping someone.

English speakers often use 'rate' or 'score' where Spanish speakers use 'calificar'. The English 'qualify' is narrower than the Spanish 'calificar'.

The FIFA World Cup 'Eliminatorias' (Qualifiers) are often called 'procesos de calificación' in Latin America. In many Spanish novels, characters are 'calificados' by their honor or lineage. The song 'Calificación G' (G Rating) refers to the movie rating system.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Education

calificar con 10
sistema de calificación
calificar tareas
revisar y calificar

Sports

calificar para el mundial
ronda de calificación
calificar en primer lugar
lograr calificar

Finance

calificar para un crédito
calificar el riesgo
calificar solvencia
requisitos para calificar

Social Opinions

calificar de mentiroso
calificar de valiente
calificar la actitud
no juzgar ni calificar

Law

calificar el delito
calificación jurídica
calificar la prueba
calificar de nulo

بدايات محادثة

"¿Qué criterios usa tu profesor para calificar los proyectos finales?"

"¿Crees que es justo calificar a las personas por su primera impresión?"

"¿Alguna vez calificaste para una competencia nacional en algún deporte?"

"¿Cómo calificarías el servicio en el último restaurante que visitaste?"

"¿Te parece difícil calificar tus propias habilidades en un currículum?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Describe una vez que recibiste una calificación que consideraste injusta. ¿Qué hiciste al respecto?

Si tuvieras que calificar tu nivel de felicidad hoy del 1 al 10, ¿cuál sería y por qué?

Escribe sobre una persona a la que calificarías de 'héroe' en tu vida real.

¿Qué requisitos crees que debería tener alguien para calificar como un buen líder?

Reflexiona sobre cómo la sociedad califica el éxito hoy en día.

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

Sí, es la forma más común de decir 'to grade an exam' en todo el mundo hispanohablante.

'Calificar de' se usa más para adjetivos personales (calificar de tonto), mientras que 'calificar como' es más formal y se usa para categorías (calificar como éxito).

Sí, especialmente en Latinoamérica para decir que un equipo pasa a la siguiente ronda (calificar para el mundial).

Se dice 'boleta de calificaciones' o 'carné de notas'.

Sí, pero recuerda usar la preposición 'de' si le estás dando un atributo: 'Lo califico de buen amigo'.

Sí, es un verbo regular terminado en -ar.

Significa quitarle a alguien el derecho de participar en algo o decir que su opinión no vale.

Sí, para saber si una persona tiene los requisitos para un préstamo: '¿Califica usted para el crédito?'

No. Clasificar es ordenar (como libros en una biblioteca). Calificar es juzgar (como decir que un libro es bueno).

En España se usan 'calificar', 'corregir' y 'puntuar' indistintamente para los exámenes.

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