Usage Note
Escalier is singular and refers to the whole staircase, whereas English often uses the plural 'stairs'. The phrase dans l'escalier ('on the stairs') is very common. Escalier roulant means escalator. The expression l'esprit de l'escalier — a French coinage — describes the perfect comeback that only occurs to you after you've left.
Examples
"Il monte l'escalier en courant."
Natural Translation
He runs up the stairs.
Literal Translation
He climbs the staircase running.
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