step (alert/command)

Question

I'd like to know how to say "step" in Spanish in the following context:

I am walking with my child and we come up to some steps or uneven ground. In English I say "step" to alert her to the step and tell her to take the step. How would I say that in Spanish? "paso/escalón" doesn't sound right for this situation.

Thanks!

Welcome to SpanishDict, Taibd. - rac1, Oct 7, 2017

welcome to the forum, :) - 006595c6, Oct 7, 2017

Thanks guys! - Vikiseed, Oct 7, 2017

Answer 1

Pisar is like stepping on something. If you say "pisa" is like you want her to squash something ("¡pisa esa cucaracha!"). "Camina", "da un paso", "pon el pie aquí" are different commands. "¡Escalón!" is the right warming when a child is about to bump into a step and fall.

This is a native speaker, so I would go with his suggestions. :) - bosquederoble, Oct 7, 2017

Great recommendations. Gracias! - Vikiseed, Oct 7, 2017

Answer 2

"¡Escalón!" is the right warming when a child is about to bump into a step and fall.

This is it!

"Pisa" when I ask her to step. Just as a follow on, what's a step on uneven ground (not on stairs) called?

Pisa is not the correct answer, pisar means to step on something. , it is not a warning like the above.

We normally use "¡escalón! " to warn somebody when there is a step or uneven ground.

Welcome again to the forum, tai

Thanks for clearing that up! - Vikiseed, Oct 7, 2017

Answer 3

I think you are using step as a verb command.

As a command to a child you would use normally the tú (informal) affirmative command: pisa

In a formal sense that would be: pise

So on signs you see step with caution:

As a simple alert, escalón- cuidado con el escalón can work (note the grab strap- this is a bus by the step down):

Accents are sometimes dropped (it should be precaución and escalón)

almost got it right, ¡escalón! is what we say - 006595c6, Oct 7, 2017

Answer 4

Ah of course. "Pisa" when I ask her to step. Just as a follow on, what's a step on uneven ground (not on stairs) called?

If it is sharp and a single manmade one, still escalón I think. Subida would be a natural rise I think. And the cutoff between the two and affirmation of this I would leave to a native. :) - bosquederoble, Oct 7, 2017

The problem here is that we use a lot of "kid-oriented" vocabulary, and those are country-specific. I would use "cuidado que hay chichones" and "cuidado, está todo desparejito" and "fijáte dónde pisás, está todo poceado" as a general warning. - aleCcowaN, Oct 9, 2017

Answer 5

Cuidado con el escalón is my favorite one.

Answer 6

Uneven ground can be said in two ways:

1. una superficie irregular - uneven surface
2. un terreno desnivelado - uneven ground

Answer 7

¡escalón! would be right but I would probably just say ¡Cuidado! which would be like saying Careful. In some parts of Latin America you could say ¡ojo! which in this instance would mean Watch out!