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
