À l'étage

Expression: À l'étage

Pronunciation: [a lay tazh]

Meaning: upstairs, downstairs

Literal translation: on/to the floor (of a multi-story building)

Register: normal

Notes: The French expression à l'étage isn't idiomatic, but since it can mean "upstairs" or "downstairs," depending on what it's used with, I thought it merited an explanation.

À l'étage on its own means "upstairs," and it can also refer specifically to the upper floor of a two-story building - for example, from the vantage point of someone standing outside talking about the upper floor. In France, this is also known as le premier étage; in the UK, "the first floor"; in the US, "the second floor." (See confusing number pairs for more info.)

But be careful, as different words can be added which make it mean "downstairs":

   à l'étage du dessus / à l'étage au-dessus - upstairs, on the floor above
   à l'étage du dessous / à l'étage en-dessous - downstairs, on the floor below

   monter à l'étage - to go upstairs
   monter à l'étage supérieure - to go up one floor, to the next floor
   monter à l'étage (number) - to go up to the (ordinal number) floor

   descendre à l'étage inférieur - to go down one floor
   descendre à l'étage (number) - to down to the (ordinal number) floor

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More: Expressions with à