A simple, colorful illustration showing an empty elevator car ascending inside a building shaft.

ascensor

ahs-sen-SORE

nounmA1

elevator?US English,lift?UK English

Also:hoist?less common, technical sense

📝 In Action

El ascensor está averiado; tendremos que usar las escaleras.

The elevator is broken; we will have to use the stairs.

¿Dónde está el ascensor para subir al quinto piso?

Where is the lift to go up to the fifth floor?

Prefiero subir por el ascensor porque llevo mucho peso.

I prefer to go up by the elevator because I am carrying a lot of weight.

Word Connections

Synonyms

elevador (elevator (common in Latin America))
montacargas (freight elevator/goods lift)

Common Collocations

tomar el ascensor – to take the elevator
esperar el ascensor – to wait for the lift
el botón del ascensor – the elevator button

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Remember that 'ascensor' is always masculine, so you must use the masculine article 'el' (the) or 'un' (a/an) before it: 'el ascensor' or 'un ascensor'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Ascensor' and 'Escalera'

Mistake: "Using 'ascensor' when you mean 'stairs.'"

Correction: The moving machine is 'el ascensor' (elevator). The fixed steps are 'la escalera' (stairs).

⭐ Usage Tips

Regional Variation: Elevador

While 'ascensor' is understood everywhere, many countries in Latin America, especially Mexico and parts of Central America, prefer the word 'elevador'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ascensor

Question 1 of 1

If you are on the ground floor and want to go to the tenth floor without using the stairs, what should you take?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ascender(to ascend; to go up) - verb

ascensión(ascent; rise) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'to take the elevator' in Spanish?

The most common phrases are 'tomar el ascensor' or 'coger el ascensor.' In Latin America, 'tomar' is preferred, while in Spain, 'coger' is very common.

Is 'elevador' the same as 'ascensor'?

Yes, they mean the same thing (elevator/lift). 'Ascensor' is the standard term in Spain and many other places, but 'elevador' is frequently used, especially in Mexico and Central American countries.