etapes

Étapes is the plural form of the French noun étape, meaning a step or stage in a sequence. It denotes a defined point, period, or phase within a process, journey, or development, and is used to organize complex tasks or narratives by listing successive parts.

Across disciplines, les étapes structure workflows and guidance. In project management, les étapes d'un projet describe the ordered tasks from initiation to completion. In manufacturing, les étapes de fabrication outline the sequence from raw materials to finished goods. In biology, les étapes du développement denote developmental stages; in travel, les étapes d'un itinéraire refer to stops or waypoints along a route; in cooking and crafts, recipes are divided into étapes to guide execution.

Etymology and translation: étape derives from Old French étape, historically linked to the notion of a stopping point or staging place along a journey, with the sense broadening to any phase in a process. In English-language usage, étape is usually translated as step or stage, although the French term is sometimes retained for stylistic or cultural effect. See also related terms such as phase, stade, and progression.