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escalera

ehs-kah-LEH-rah/es.kaˈle.ɾa/

“escalera” means “stairs” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

stairs, staircase

Also: flight of stairs
NounfA1
Mexico
A sturdy wooden staircase fixed inside a brightly lit building, illustrating a set of stairs.

📝 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

ladder

NounfB1
A tall, portable wooden ladder resting against a bright blue exterior wall in a garden setting.

📝 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)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "escalera" in Spanish:

ladder→staircase→stairs→

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the vulgar Latin word *scala*, which meant 'ladder' or 'series of steps.' It is closely related to the Spanish verb 'escalar' (to climb).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: escadaItalian: scalaFrench: échelle

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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.