Portuguese · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Stairs" in Portuguese: escada
a escada
Stairs in Portuguese is a escada (also used for a ladder). Plural as escadas is common for a stairway. Subir a escada means to go up the stairs.
Apartment building
O elevador quebrou; vamos pela escada.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce escada
Say it
ess-KAH-dah
/es.ˈka.da/
ess-KAH-dah. Stress on KAH.
"Stairs" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| a escada | stairs / ladder Default; context decides. | Default; context decides. |
| as escadas | the stairs Plural stairway. | Plural stairway. |
| subir a escada | to go up the stairs Motion up. | Motion up. |
| descer a escada | to go down the stairs Motion down. | Motion down. |
| escada rolante | escalator Mall/metro. | Mall/metro. |
How to use escada in real life
- 1Apartment building
O elevador quebrou; vamos pela escada.
The elevator broke; let's take the stairs.
Pela escada.
- 2Workout
Subi a escada até o oitavo andar sem parar.
I climbed the stairs to the eighth floor without stopping.
Subir a escada.
- 3Warning
Cuidado na escada—o degrau está molhado.
Careful on the stairs—the step is wet.
Safety tip.
Mistakes English speakers make with escada
Incorrect: O escada.
Correct: A escada.
Escada is feminine.
Incorrect: Vamos pelas stairs.
Correct: Vamos pela escada.
Use escada, not English stairs.
Good to know
Escada covers both stairs and ladder; escada rolante is escalator. In older buildings without working elevators, pela escada is everyday life. Degrau is the individual step.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arriving at a friend's flat
ChatPal
Preferem elevador ou escada?
Do you prefer elevator or stairs?
You
Escada. Quero me mexer um pouco.
Stairs. I want to move a bit.
ChatPal
A escada fica no fundo do corredor.
The stairs are at the end of the hall.
You
Vi. A escada é estreita, mas dá.
I see. The stairs are narrow, but it's fine.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Stairs" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Stairs" in Portuguese
Stairs or ladder?
Both can be escada; context or escada de mão clarifies ladder.
How do I say go up the stairs?
Subir a escada / subir as escadas.
What is an escalator?
Escada rolante.
Masculine or feminine?
Feminine: a escada.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
