Inklingo
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escalera

/ehs-kah-LEH-rah/

stairs

A sturdy wooden staircase fixed inside a brightly lit building, illustrating a set of stairs.

When escalera refers to a fixed structure in a building, it means "stairs."

escalera(noun)

fA1

stairs

?

Fixed structure in a building

,

staircase

?

The entire set of steps and railings

Also:

flight of stairs

?

One section between landings

📝 In Action

Subimos la escalera al segundo piso.

A1

We went up the stairs to the second floor.

La casa tiene una escalera de madera muy antigua.

A2

The house has a very old wooden staircase.

Tenga cuidado, la escalera está resbaladiza.

A1

Be careful, the stairs are slippery.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • escalinata (grand staircase (often outdoors))

Common Collocations

  • subir la escalera – to go up the stairs
  • bajar la escalera – to go down the stairs
  • tramo de escalera – flight of stairs

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Remember 'escalera' is feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the Structures

Mistake: "Using 'escalera' when you mean 'escalón' (the single step)."

Correction: 'Escalera' is the whole unit; 'escalón' is one step/tread. 'Me tropecé en un escalón' (I tripped on a step).

⭐ Usage Tips

Movement Verbs

When talking about moving on stairs, you usually use verbs like 'subir' (go up) or 'bajar' (go down), rather than just 'caminar' (walk).

A tall, portable wooden ladder resting against a bright blue exterior wall in a garden setting.

When escalera is a portable device used for climbing, it translates to "ladder."

escalera(noun)

fB1

ladder

?

Portable device for climbing

📝 In Action

Necesito una escalera para cambiar la bombilla del techo.

B1

I need a ladder to change the light bulb on the ceiling.

El pintor dejó la escalera apoyada en la pared.

B1

The painter left the ladder leaning against the wall.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • escalera de mano – hand ladder (emphasizes portability)
  • escalera de tijera – stepladder (A-frame ladder)

Idioms & Expressions

  • subir la escalera social – to climb the social ladder (figurative)

💡 Grammar Points

The Portable Kind

When you mean the portable tool, you can specify 'escalera de mano' (hand ladder) if you need to avoid confusion with fixed stairs, but context usually makes it clear.

❌ Common Pitfalls

False Friend Alert

Mistake: "Thinking 'escalera' means 'escalator.'"

Correction: Use 'escalera mecánica' for an escalator. 'Escalera' alone means stairs or a ladder.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: escalera

Question 1 of 1

Which structure would you use to reach a book on a very high shelf?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

escalar(to climb, to scale (a wall, a mountain)) - verb
escalón(step, rung (of a ladder)) - noun
escalada(climb, escalation) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'escalera' y 'escalón'?

The 'escalera' is the entire structure—the set of steps or rungs. An 'escalón' is just one individual step or tread within that structure.

¿Cómo se dice 'escalator' en español?

The word is 'escalera mecánica' (mechanical stairs). This is the term you need for moving steps in a mall or subway.