escala
“escala” means “scale” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
scale
Also: range, level
📝 In Action
La escala del mapa es de uno a diez mil.
A2The scale of the map is one to ten thousand.
Necesitamos medir la temperatura en la escala Celsius.
B1We need to measure the temperature on the Celsius scale.
stopover
Also: port of call
📝 In Action
Nuestro vuelo tiene una escala de dos horas en Panamá.
B1Our flight has a two-hour stopover in Panama.
Hicimos escala en un puerto antes de cruzar el océano.
B2We made a port of call before crossing the ocean.
ladder, gangway
Also: scale
📝 In Action
El marinero subió por la escala del barco.
B2The sailor climbed up the ship's ladder/gangway.
Practicamos la escala de do mayor en clase de música.
B2We practiced the C major scale in music class.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: escala
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'escala' in the context of travel?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *scala*, meaning 'ladder' or 'staircase.' Over time, its meaning expanded in Spanish to include the idea of measuring or stepping from one point to another, giving us the senses of 'scale' and 'stopover.'
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'escala' the same as 'escalera'?
No, they are related but usually different! 'Escalera' is the general word for stairs or a portable ladder you might use at home. 'Escala' usually refers to a specific type of ladder (like a ship's gangway) or, more commonly, a measurement scale or a travel stopover.
What is the verb form related to 'escala'?
The infinitive verb is 'escalar,' meaning 'to climb' or 'to scale.' The word 'escala' is actually the form used when saying 'he/she/it climbs' (él/ella escala).