échelle
/e.ʃɛl/feminine
The French word for ladder is échelle.
échelle refers to a climbing tool. It is also used to describe a mathematical or musical scale.
Meaning: climbing tool (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word échelle is used for both a physical climbing ladder and a mathematical or musical scale.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a feminine noun. The plural form of échelle is échelles.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /e.ʃɛl/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may mistakenly use the masculine article un instead of the feminine une because 'ladder' is not gendered in English.
Did you know?
- The word échelle is a linguistic sibling to the word escale, which refers to a 'stopover' on a journey, because both stems originally referred to 'steps' or 'stages' of a process.
- In French, the phrase monter les échelons literally means 'to climb the rungs' but is used to describe climbing the corporate or professional ladder.
- While échelle is used for a climbing tool, if you are talking about a ladder that leans against a wall, a French speaker might specifically call it an escabeau if it is a small, portable step stool.
Examples in context
- As-tu une échelle ?Do you have a ladder?This sentence is useful for asking if someone possesses an échelle.Tatoeba #8779187 by felix63, translation #9207970 by CK
- Il a grimpé l'échelle.He climbed up the ladder.This sentence is useful for describing the action of climbing an échelle.Tatoeba #4718625 by sacredceltic, translation #2510813 by Hybrid
- Je suis tombé de l'échelle.I fell off the ladder.This sentence is useful for describing falling from an échelle.Tatoeba #6877763 by GB3, translation #5916890 by CK
- Où se trouve l'échelle de secours, s'il vous plaît?Where is the emergency ladder, please?
- Tu peux me passer l'escabeau, s'il te plaît?Can you pass me the step ladder, please?
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas is trying to reach a high shelf in the garage.
- LéaOù est l'échelle, Lucas ?Where is the ladder, Lucas?
- LucasElle est dans le garage.It is in the garage.
- LéaPeux-tu me la donner ?Can you give it to me?
- LucasOui, la voilà.Yes, here it is.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ladder” translations and entries échelle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries échelle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
