stappen

Stappen is a Dutch word with several related meanings. It is the plural form of the noun stap, meaning a single step or pace, such as a step on a staircase, a stride in walking, or a stage in a sequence. It is also the infinitive of the verb stappen, which means to step or to walk, and can describe the act of moving by lifting and placing the feet.

Used as a verb, stappen covers taking steps, walking, or moving forward. In everyday language it can also mean to go out and dance: we often say we are going to stappen in the evening. In noun form, stappen can refer to multiple steps, such as a sequence of actions in a procedure or the steps in a recipe or plan.

Common derived terms include stap (one step), stappenplan (step-by-step plan), and the idioms een stap zetten (to take a step) and stap voor stap (step by step). The phrase naar de volgende stap means moving to the next step. In Dutch you may also encounter phrases like stappenplan and stappen zetten to emphasize progress through a process.

Origin and usage: etymologically, stappen is linked to the noun stap and forms part of the broader family of Germanic languages. The word is widely used in everyday speech, in technical writing to describe sequences, and in cultural contexts such as dancing, where “stappen” refers to the steps of a dance. See also related terms like stap, stappenplan, and danspassen.