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"Escalera" is a noun which is often translated as "stairs", and "portal" is a noun which is often translated as "front door". Learn more about the difference between "escalera" and "portal" below.
la escalera(
ehs
-
kah
-
leh
-
rah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
2. (portable)
a. ladder
Los bomberos siempre llevan una escalera en su camión.The firefighters always carry a ladder on their truck.
el portal(
pohr
-
tahl
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (entrance)
a. front door
El perro esperó a su dueño en el portal.The dog waited at the front door for his owner.
b. entrance hall
El príncipe y el rey se encontraron en el portal del palacio.The prince and the king met at the entrance hall of the palace.
e. gate (of a wall)
Un campesino corrió hasta el portal y avisó a los guardas de que se aproximaba el enemigo.A peasant ran to the gates and shouted to the guards that the enemy was coming.
2. (computing)
a. portal
El portal fue hackeado y muestra una página en blanco.The portal has been hacked and it's showing a blank page.
3. (religious)
a. Nativity scene
Estamos poniendo el portal porque ya se acerca la Navidad.We are putting up the Nativity scene because Christmas is coming.
los portales
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. arcade
Los portales de la iglesia están decorados con pinturas de los arcángeles.The arcade of the church is ornamented with paintings of the archangels.
