"The third grade"

Translation: A terceira série

[gpriddy]

Why can't I say: "A terça série" or "O terço grau" instead? Don't terço and terceiro both mean third?

[Paulenrique]

When we talk about position, level, etc, we use terceiro/terceira. Terço and terça is is one part out of three, when you divide something and take one part of it.(1/3). Metade = half, um quarto =a quarter, and so on

[saharansari]

is o terceira serie correct?
Can the 'Grade' here be Serie?

[Paulenrique]

Yes. But "série" is feminine, so we have "a terceira série"

[saharansari]

Oh No I put 'O" before it - AAAAAArgh
But it could a correct answer then?

[Paulenrique]

Yes, that's a correct

[Danmoller]

Indeed :)

In fact, "série" is way better than "grau" here.

At least in Brazil, we use "série" for school years, English "grades".
And "grau" for school education levels, such as "primary, secondary and tertiary educations" (primeiro, segundo e terceiro graus).

---

Today, it's more common to see "ensino primário, ensino médio, ensino superior".

[ruama_semtempo]

In Portuguese, "terceiro grau" can refer to the college. Is the same in English?

[nespera]

In Britain at least we talk about primary school, secondary school (high school) and tertiary education (college). But the last one is not very common.

[dlung1]

In USA, third grade is the third year of elementary school, for 8 or 9 year olds.

[ruama_semtempo]

Thanks nespera and dlung1

Hmmm... So "third grade" is "terceira série" in Brazil. In addition, primary school: ensino fundamental; high school: ens. médio (segundo grau); and tertiary education: ens. superior (terceiro grau). But we use "2º/3º grau" to say what level of formal education we have.

[AaronKnaue]

I am a teacher in Mozambique and we always refer to grades (as in the year of school you are in) as "classes"; for example, "third grade" would be "terceira classe". Is this not the case elsewhere?

[Danmoller]

In Brazil we use "série". Every year, students advance one "série".

[gpriddy]

but it is used with "terça-feira"

[Paulenrique]

Yeah. When i teach the days of the week i highlight: "you cant use terceira-feira, but terça-feira". It doesnt follow the rule

[DominoD87]

Is 'grau' applies to 'school grade' also? as in: He is in third grade.

[Paulenrique]

In the past people used the word "grau" to refer to two specific phases: primeiro grau (ensino fundamental) elementary/Junior High School, segundo grau (ensino médio): High-School. In a questionary, when asking about your schoolarship, it's sometimes used primeiro/segundo grau.

[jolop17]

What's wrong with "O grau terceiro"?

[Danmoller]

It's very very uncommon to use ordinal numbers after nouns. That is only seen in old kings' / emperors' names, such as "Dom Pedro Primeiro".

[4oYBIxtO]

Is "série" Brazilian? What would the Portuguese say?

[barbaratorrance]

i find these comparisons of different grades and level of education so confusing ---Brazil, Portugal, America and England, are all different-----how can I possibly remember them?