Schritt

Schritt is a masculine noun in German (der Schritt) that denotes a single movement of lifting one foot and placing it forward when walking, i.e., a step or gait. The term is also used figuratively to indicate a unit of progress within a plan or process, as in phrases like “einen Schritt weitergehen” or “im ersten Schritt.” Its etymology goes back to older Germanic roots and the word has long been tied to movement and progression in everyday language.

In everyday use, Schritt appears in many common expressions. People say “einen Schritt machen” to indicate taking action, or “Schritte zählen” when using a pedometer to measure activity. Related concepts include “Schrittlänge” (step length) and “Schrittfrequenz” or “Kadenz” (steps per minute). The term is prevalent in discussions of health, fitness, travel, and planning, where progress is described as occurring in discrete steps.

In technology and engineering, Schritt is central in the concept of discrete movements. A Schrittmotor (stepper motor) is driven in fixed increments, with specifications such as “Schritte pro Umdrehung” (steps per revolution) and “Schrittwinkel” (step angle) determining positioning accuracy. The idea of steps also appears in software and workflow design to denote sequential stages—“Schritte eines Verfahrens” or an ordered Arbeitsablauf.

In dance and music, Schritte refer to specific footwork or choreographic elements. The term is used to describe how dancers move across the floor and how rhythmic patterns are executed.

Related terms include Stufe (stage or level), Schreiten (to step), and Tritt (a step or strike). Overall, Schritt is a versatile word used across practical, technical, and artistic contexts in German.