escenario

/es-seh-NAH-reeoh/

stage

El escenario (the stage) is ready for the performance.

escenario(noun)

mA2

stage

Theatre, concerts, performance platform

Also:

set

Physical scenery used in a play or movie

📝 In Action

El cantante apareció en el escenario y la gente aplaudió.

The singer appeared on the stage and the people applauded.

Ayer montaron un escenario enorme para el festival de música.

Yesterday they built a huge stage for the music festival.

El equipo técnico se encargó del diseño del escenario.

The technical team was in charge of the stage design (set design).

Word Connections

Synonyms

tarima (platform)
plataforma (platform)

Common Collocations

subir al escenario – to go up on stage
bajar del escenario – to come down from the stage

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Alert

Even though it ends in '-o', remember 'escenario' is always a masculine noun, so you use the masculine word 'el' (the) or 'un' (a) before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Escenario' for 'Scene'

Mistake: "Saying 'La obra tiene cinco escenarios' (The play has five stages) when you mean the parts of the play."

Correction: Use 'escena' when referring to a section of a play or film ('La obra tiene cinco escenas'). 'Escenario' is the physical stage itself.

⭐ Usage Tips

Movement to the Stage

When talking about movement to the stage, you use 'al' (a + el): 'Voy al escenario' (I am going to the stage).

A dirt path splits into two distinct directions. One path leads towards a miniature, sunny cityscape, while the other leads towards a miniature, dark forest, symbolizing diverging possibilities.

When discussing a possible situation or outcome, we use el escenario (the scenario).

escenario(noun)

mB1

scenario

Possible situation or outcome

setting

Context or environment for an event

Also:

situation

A specific set of circumstances

backdrop

The context of an event

📝 In Action

Tenemos que prepararnos para el peor escenario posible.

We have to prepare ourselves for the worst possible scenario.

El escenario político ha cambiado mucho en el último mes.

The political setting (or context) has changed a lot in the last month.

Este nuevo acuerdo crea un escenario optimista para el futuro de la empresa.

This new agreement creates an optimistic scenario for the future of the company.

Word Connections

Synonyms

situación (situation)
contexto (context)
panorama (outlook)

Common Collocations

el mejor escenario – the best-case scenario
cambiar el escenario – to change the situation/setting

Idioms & Expressions

entrar en escena – to appear suddenly; to become involved

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Use

In this abstract meaning, 'escenario' is often paired with adjectives that describe quality or risk, such as 'optimista,' 'pesimista,' 'incierto,' or 'económico'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Use

This meaning is often heard in news reports, business discussions, or academic writing, making it sound slightly more formal than just saying 'situación'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: escenario

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'escenario' in its most abstract sense (a possible situation)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

escenificar(to stage or dramatize (a situation)) - verb

escénico(scenic, relating to the stage) - adjective

escenografía(set design or scenography) - noun

escena(scene (part of a play)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know whether 'escenario' means 'stage' or 'scenario'?

Look at the context! If the sentence involves actors, music, plays, or a physical structure, it means 'stage.' If it involves planning, business, politics, or potential outcomes, it means 'scenario' or 'situation'.

If I am performing, do I say I am 'en la escena' or 'en el escenario'?

You are 'en el escenario' (on the stage). 'En la escena' usually means you are currently in a specific part of a script (in the scene) or at the location of an event (at the scene).