Stair in different languages

Stair in Different Languages

Discover 'Stair' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Stairs are an essential architectural feature, allowing us to navigate vertical spaces in buildings and homes. They have been a significant aspect of cultural importance throughout history, symbolizing social status, power, and transition. For instance, in ancient Egypt, stairs were a symbol of the journey to the afterlife, while in ancient Greece, they represented the ascent to divine realms.

Understanding the translation of the word 'stair' in different languages can provide insight into various cultural perspectives and historical contexts. For example, in Spanish, 'stair' is 'escalera,' while in French, it's 'escalier.' In German, it's 'Treppe,' and in Japanese, it's ' Hashigo.'

Moreover, knowing the translation of 'stair' in different languages can be helpful for travelers, architects, and language enthusiasts alike. It can also foster a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of stairs in various societies.

Stair


Stair in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanstrap
In Afrikaans the word "trap" does not mean "stair" but rather "step" or "tread" and also "pace" or "step"
Amharicደረጃ
In classical Ethiopian Geʽez, the term “stair” is “ተረጃ”, which is etymologically similar to “ደረጃ”.
Hausamatakala
The word "matakala" in Hausa may have originated from the Hausa word "taka" meaning "step" or "stage".
Igbosteepụ
The Igbo word ''steepụ'' (stair) is derived from the verb ''ste'' (to ascend) and the suffix ''-ụ'' (a nominal suffix).
Malagasystair
The Malagasy word "tohatra" can also mean "ladder" or "step ladder" in addition to "stair".
Nyanja (Chichewa)masitepe
The Nyanja word 'masitepe' is cognate with the Swahili word 'ngazi', meaning 'ladder', suggesting a common Bantu origin.
Shonakukwira
In Shona, "kukwira" is a verb meaning "to climb" or "to ascend," and can also refer to the process of raising or lifting something up.
Somalijaranjaro
The word "jaranjaro" is said to derive from the word "jirin," which means "to walk" in Somali.
Sesotholitepisi
The word "litepisi" also denotes a "step" in a series of actions or a stage in a process, as in the phrase: "litepisi la peledi" (the stage of a fight).
Swahilingazi
In some dialects, ngazi means "ladder" instead of "stair"
Xhosaisiteji
"Isiteji" is also the name of a particular Xhosa musical rhythm.
Yorubapẹtẹẹsì
"Pẹtẹẹsì" also refers to stages in the development or progress of something.
Zuluisitebhisi
The word "isitebhisi" in Zulu, besides meaning "stair" or "step", can also refer to a "row" or "line" of people or objects.
Bambaraɛrɛzɛnsun
Eweatrakpui dzi
Kinyarwandaingazi
Lingalaeskalye ya eskalye
Lugandaamadaala
Sepedimanamelo
Twi (Akan)antweri so

Stair in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicسلم
The word "سلم" ("stair") in Arabic is derived from the root "س-ل-م" meaning "to be safe or secure".
Hebrewמדרגה
The Hebrew word "מדרגה" (stair), from the root meaning "to step," also refers to an abstract level or rank in a hierarchy or organization.
Pashtoزينه
Alternate meaning: decoration, ornament, splendor, adornment.
Arabicسلم
The word "سلم" ("stair") in Arabic is derived from the root "س-ل-م" meaning "to be safe or secure".

Stair in Western European Languages

Albanianshkallët
The Albanian word "shkallët" is derived from the Proto-Albanian word "*skalje", which itself comes from the Latin word "scala".
Basqueeskailera
The word 'eskailera' (stair) is a loanword from Spanish, ultimately derived from the Latin 'scala' (ladder, staircase).
Catalanescala
In music, "escala" refers to a series of musical notes in ascending or descending order.
Croatianstubište
"Stubište" is a Croatian word for a field or lot where a house once stood and is derived from the word "stuba," meaning a room or dwelling.
Danishtrappe
In Danish, the word "trappe" can also refer to a flight of stairs, a staircase, or a trap door.
Dutchtrap
In Dutch, the word "trap" can also refer to a staircase or flight of stairs.
Englishstair
The word "stair" comes from the Old English word "steger," which means "to climb."
Frenchescalier
The word "escalier" has a Latin origin, "scala" meaning "ladder", and also refers to a spiral staircase in French.
Frisiantrep
The word "trep" has cognates in multiple Germanic and Indo-European languages.
Galicianescaleira
The Galician word "escaleira" derives from the Latin "scala", originally meaning "ladder" or "flight of steps", and has cognates in many Romance languages, such as Spanish "escalera", Portuguese "escada", and French "escalier".
Germantreppe
The word "Treppe" is derived from the ancient Teutonic root "trep," which means "to step."
Icelandicstigi
The Icelandic word "stigi" shares an etymology with the Latin "stiegere" (to climb) and the English "sty" (a place where animals are housed).
Irishstaighre
The word "staighre" is a loanword from Old Norse, meaning "straight path".
Italianscala
Scala is the Italian word for stair, but it can also refer to a musical scale or gradation.
Luxembourgishtrap
The Luxembourgish word "Trap" is derived from the Old French word "trappe", which means "staircase".
Malteseturġien
The Maltese word "turġien" is derived from the Sicilian word "turriggianu", which in turn comes from the Latin word "turris" meaning "tower".
Norwegiantrapp
In Norwegian, "trapp" also refers to a device used to catch animals, cognate with the English word "trap".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)escada
"Escada" comes from the Latin "scala" meaning "ladder", but is also used to refer to any kind of "staircase" or "flight of stairs" in Portuguese.
Scots Gaelicstaidhre
The Scots Gaelic word “staidhre” (IPA: /s̪t̪əjɾʲə/), as well as the Welsh “ystwyll”, derives from the Proto-Celtic word *stēgʷri-, which meant “to climb, ascend”, and is ultimately of Proto-Indo-European (PIE) origin.
Spanishescalera
"Escalera" comes from the Latin "scala" and also means "ladder" or "stepladder".
Swedishtrappsteg
"Trapp" in Swedish originally meant a mill hopper. In a figurative sense, the word can also mean "a series of steps"
Welshgrisiau
The term 'grisiau' is derived from the verb 'graddio', meaning 'to stride' or 'to step', and bears the alternate meaning of 'gradation'.

Stair in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianлесвіца
The word "лесвіца" in Belarusian originates from the Proto-Slavic word "lěstvica", which meant something that is used to climb something high.
Bosnianstepenice
In some areas of Croatia, the word 'stepenice' can also mean 'ladder'.
Bulgarianстълбище
In Old Bulgarian, “стълпъ“ meant both “pillar” and “stair”.
Czechschodiště
In Czech, the word schodiště literally means "a place for strolling," and its plural form is used to describe a "grand staircase."
Estoniantrepp
The noun
Finnishrappu
The word 'rappu' is a derivative of the German word 'treppe' and also refers to a large building or a grand staircase.
Hungarianlépcsőfok
The word "lépcsőfok" comes from the Hungarian word "lép", meaning "step", and the suffix "-cső", meaning "place".
Latviankāpnes
The word "kāpnes" can also refer to a ladder or a staircase.
Lithuanianlaiptas
Lithuanian word "laiptas", meaning "stair", stems from the verb lipti, which refers to climbing up a ladder or a slope.
Macedonianскала
The word "скала" in Macedonian is a false friend: it means "rock" in Russian, but "stair" in Macedonian.
Polishschodek
The word 'schodki' can also refer to 'the first steps in a particular career'.
Romanianscara
The Romanian word "scara" (stair) is derived from the Slavic word "skora" (hide), suggesting its use as a covering or barrier in early homes.
Russianлестница
The word "лестница" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "лЪстъ", meaning "a ladder". It can also refer to a "flight of stairs" or a "rung of a ladder".
Serbianстепениште
The word "степениште" can also refer to a "staircase" or a "stairway".
Slovakschodisko
The word "schodisko" derives from the German "Stiege" and originally meant "ladder".
Slovenianstopnice
The word "stopnice" in Slovenian comes from the Proto-Slavic root *stopъ, meaning "foot" or "step", and is related to the Latin word "step" and the Greek word "stoicho" (row).
Ukrainianсходи
"Сходи" derives from the Proto-Slavic *xodъ, which means "way", "route", "journey", or "procession", and is cognate with Old Church Slavonic "hodъ" ("step"), Church Slavonic "ходъ" ("procession"), Russian "ход" ("walk"), and Polish "chód" ("gait").

Stair in South Asian Languages

Bengaliসিঁড়ি
The word 'সিঁড়ি' originates from Sanskrit 'श्रेणी' ( श्रे + णि ), meaning 'a step, a row, a rank, a series' or 'a ladder.'
Gujaratiસીડી
In Gujarati, "સીડી" not only means "stair" but also a "ladder".
Hindiसीढ़ी
The word "सीढ़ी" can also refer to a ladder, a staircase, or a flight of steps.
Kannadaಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲು
The word "ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲು" can also mean "a measure of capacity for grain or other dry goods".
Malayalamഗോവണി
The word "ഗോവണി" (stair) is derived from the Sanskrit word "गो" (cow) and "वण" (way), as cows were often led up and down stairs.
Marathiजिना
The Marathi word "जिना" (stair) is derived from the Sanskrit word "जिन" (to conquer), suggesting its original use as a means to ascend obstacles.
Nepaliभर्या
The word "भर्या" can also mean a "crowd" or a "group" in Nepali.
Punjabiਪੌੜੀ
In Punjabi, the word 'ਪੌੜੀ' can also refer to a ladder, step stool, or flight of stairs.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පඩි පෙළ
The term 'පඩි පෙළ' is also figuratively used to refer to a sequence of steps or levels in an organization or system.
Tamilபடிக்கட்டு
Teluguమెట్ల
The word "మెట్ల" in Telugu can also mean "steps" taken while walking or dancing.
Urduسیڑھی
Urdu word 'سیڑھی' also refers to a ladder, steps leading to a roof, staircase, and rungs of a ladder

Stair in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)楼梯
"楼梯"也可指建筑物的外露部分,如阳台和露台。
Chinese (Traditional)樓梯
In the Song Dynasty, "樓梯" was used to refer to a large building with multiple floors, and it was not until the Ming Dynasty that it began to specifically refer to stairs.
Japanese階段
"階段" can also refer to the stages or levels in a hierarchy or progression.
Korean계단
"계단" can also mean "stage" or "level" in Korean.
Mongolianшат
The word "шат" (stair) is also used to refer to the steps of a ladder or staircase.
Myanmar (Burmese)လှေကားထစ်

Stair in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiananak tangga
'Anak tangga' literally means 'child of ladder'
Javanesetangga
The word "tangga" has its origins in the Sanskrit term "tangga" which also means "rise" or "ascent."
Khmerជណ្តើរ
The word ជណ្តើរ (chântŏĕr) in Khmer may also refer to a ladder, a staircase, a flight of stairs, or a step.
Laoຂັ້ນໄດ
The Lao word ຂັ້ນໄດ also means "step" in English and is likely derived from the Mon language.
Malaytangga
In some contexts, tangga can refer to a scale (as in music) or a rank (as in an organization).
Thaiบันได
The Thai word "บันได" (stair) originates from the Sanskrit word "पंक्ति" (paṅkti) meaning "a row".
Vietnamesecầu thang
Cầu thang (stair) in Vietnamese contains the element "thang" (lift or elevator), referring to its primary function of transporting people vertically.
Filipino (Tagalog)hagdanan

Stair in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanipilləkən
The word "pilləkən" is also used in a figurative sense to refer to a step or stage in a process or development.
Kazakhбаспалдақ
Kyrgyzтепкич
"Тепкич" is also the Kyrgyz word for "step" (of a person).
Tajikзинапоя
The word "зинапоя" in Tajik is derived from the Persian word "زینه" or "زنه" meaning "staircase" or "ladder".
Turkmenbasgançak
Uzbeknarvon
The Uzbek word "narvon" is derived from the Persian word "nardan", which means "ladder" or "staircase".
Uyghurپەلەمپەي

Stair in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianalapiʻi
Alapiʻi comes from the Hawaiian word alā (path) and piʻi (to ascend)
Maoriarawhata
"Ara" meaning "path" and "whata" meaning "storage platform or stage," "arawhata" has dual meaning, also referring to a place where food and other items were stored and accessed via stairs.
Samoansitepu
'Sitepu' is a word that can mean either a 'stair' or a 'level' in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)hagdanan
In Filipino, the term "hagdanan" does not exclusively mean "stair," but can also signify a "lineup" or "sequence."

Stair in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraescalera ukat juk’ampinaka
Guaraniescalera rehegua

Stair in International Languages

Esperantoŝtuparo
The word "ŝtuparo" is derived from the Slavic word "stop" (step), and it also means "a ladder" or "a stepladder".
Latinexstructos
The Latin word "exstructos" can have multiple meanings, including "building," "structure," "pile," or "heap."

Stair in Others Languages

Greekσκαλί
The word 'σκαλί' can also refer to a step in a dance or a verse in a song.
Hmongstair
"Stair" may also refer to the person in charge of maintenance and repairs of a staircase
Kurdishmerdim
In ancient Kurdish, the word "merdim" also referred to a ladder with rungs made from tree branches.
Turkishmerdiven
The word "merdiven" comes from the Persian word "me'râje", meaning "ladder".
Xhosaisiteji
"Isiteji" is also the name of a particular Xhosa musical rhythm.
Yiddishטרעפּל
In Old Yiddish, טרעפּל (trepl) meant a bar or beam used in construction, from Middle High German "treppe" and Latin "trabs" (beam).
Zuluisitebhisi
The word "isitebhisi" in Zulu, besides meaning "stair" or "step", can also refer to a "row" or "line" of people or objects.
Assameseচিৰি
Aymaraescalera ukat juk’ampinaka
Bhojpuriसीढ़ी के बा
Dhivehiސިޑިންނެވެ
Dogriसीढ़ी
Filipino (Tagalog)hagdanan
Guaraniescalera rehegua
Ilocanoagdan
Kriostɛp
Kurdish (Sorani)پلیکانە
Maithiliसीढ़ी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯁ꯭ꯇꯦꯔ ꯑꯃꯥ꯫
Mizostair a ni
Oromosadarkaa
Odia (Oriya)ପାହାଚ
Quechuaescalera
Sanskritसोपानम्
Tatarбаскыч
Tigrinyaመደያይቦ
Tsongaxitepisi

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