A simple wooden staircase with a white banister ascending inside a brightly lit, colorful building interior.

escaleras

es-cah-LEH-ras

nounfA1

stairs?The standard set of steps inside a building,staircase?The entire structure

Also:steps?A flight of steps, usually interior

📝 In Action

Subimos las escaleras hasta el tercer piso.

We went up the stairs to the third floor.

¿Dónde están las escaleras de emergencia?

Where are the emergency stairs?

Ten cuidado, las escaleras están resbaladizas.

Be careful, the stairs are slippery.

Word Connections

Synonyms

escalinata (grand staircase (often outdoors))
peldaños (steps (individual units))

Common Collocations

subir las escaleras – to go up the stairs
bajar las escaleras – to go down the stairs
escaleras mecánicas – escalator

💡 Grammar Points

Always Plural

Even when referring to a single set of stairs or a staircase, Spanish usually uses the plural form, 'las escaleras.' Treat it like 'scissors' or 'trousers' in English—it’s a collective plural.

Feminine Gender

Since this word is feminine and plural, it always uses the article 'las' (las escaleras) and any describing words (adjectives) must also be feminine and plural (escaleras viejas, 'old stairs').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Singular Form

Mistake: "La escalera está limpia. (Trying to refer to a single staircase)"

Correction: Las escaleras están limpias. (Use the plural, even if there is only one set.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Quick Reference

If you see 'escalera' in the singular, it often means 'ladder' (the portable climbing tool), not the built-in steps of a house.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: escaleras

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'escaleras'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

escalar(to climb) - verb

escala(scale; stopover) - noun

escalón(step (single unit)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'escalera' (singular) and 'escaleras' (plural)?

While 'escaleras' is the common way to say 'stairs' or 'staircase' in a building, 'escalera' in the singular usually means 'ladder' (the portable kind you use for repairs).

How do I refer to an escalator?

You use the phrase 'escaleras mecánicas' (mechanical stairs). This is a great example of 'escaleras' being used as a base word.