segundo piso is "2nd floor"or"3rd floor"?

Question

On Byki(language learning application software;card Realidades 1 Capituno 6B) There are some discriptions as follows.

second floor=el primer piso third floor=el segundo piso

But my Spanish friend told me.

first floor=el primer piso second floor=el segundo piso

Due to Google translator; My friend is correct,but I found the same question as mine on http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081115210425AABM3Dw.

This depends on areas/countries?

Answer 1

That's a good question - it would depend on whether you are using the American or the English system of counting floors!

In England, the "second floor" is, in actual fact, the third one above street level - we count them as "ground floor, 1st floor, 2nd floor"

In America I believe they count the one at street level as the "1st floor"., so our 2nd floor would in fact be their 3rd floor.

I don't know which system they use in Spain. Perhaps one of the Spanish natives could tell us this?

So, whether the secundo piso is the second or third one would seem to depend on which country it is in!

Answer 2

Excellent question. In standard Spanish, the ground floor is called "la planta baja" and the first floor above street level is "el primer piso". certainly it is possible that there are exceptions; so many countries speak Spanish. However, if you are looking to take a placement test or something of the sort, it's best to stick to "standard Spanish". Otherwise, you know the saying about "when in Rome do as the Romans..."

Answer 3

second