escalar
/eskaˈlaɾ/
In Spanish, 'escalate' is translated as escalar.
The word escalar is used in business or political contexts to describe the intensification of a conflict or the process of moving a problem up to a higher level of authority. It can also be used to mean 'to intensify'.
Meaning: to intensify (verb)
Which one should you use?
While escalar can be used to describe an intensification, its primary and most common meaning is to climb or scale something, such as a mountain or a wall.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form for an escalation, often used in the context of a conflict or a climb, is escalada.
How do you pronounce it?
/eskaˈlaɾ/
Did you know?
- While escalar means to intensify or climb, the word escala is used in Spanish to describe a layover or stopover during a flight.
- The noun escalada is used not just for the act of climbing, but also to describe a 'price hike' or a sudden rise in the cost of living.
- The word escalar shares its roots with the English word 'scale', as both originate from the Latin 'scala' meaning 'ladder'.
Examples in context
- La situación se está agravando rápidamenteThe situation is escalating rapidly.
- La tensión política se ha intensificadoThe political tension has escalated.
- La conversación subió de tonoThe conversation escalated.
- La tensión entre los países se está agravando debido a las disputas territoriales.Tension between the countries is escalating due to territorial disputes.
- El conflicto laboral se intensificó después de que las negociaciones fracasaran.The labor conflict escalated after the negotiations failed.
- La violencia en la región ha incrementado considerablemente durante los últimos meses.Violence in the region has escalated significantly over the past few months.
- La conversación subió de tono y terminó en una acalorada discusión.The conversation escalated and ended in a heated argument.
- La tensión puede escalar rápidamente.The tension can escalate quickly.
- No queremos escalar el conflicto.We do not want to escalate the conflict.
- El problema empezó a escalar hoy.The problem started to escalate today.
Example conversation
Two colleagues discussing a growing disagreement at work.
- MaríaEl problema con el cliente está por escalar.The problem with the client is about to escalate.
- AlejandroDebemos actuar antes de escalar la situación.We must act before escalating the situation.
- MaríaTienes razón, Alejandro.You are right, Alejandro.
- AlejandroLlamaré al gerente de inmediato.I will call the manager immediately.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry escalar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escalar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
