stufig

Stufig is a German adjective meaning stepwise or in stages. It derives from Stufe, meaning step or level, and is used to describe something that progresses or is organized into discrete steps or levels rather than being continuous.

The term appears across various fields to denote a segmented or hierarchical arrangement. In music theory, stufig often relates to movement or organization by scale degrees, such as melodies or harmonies moving in steps through a scale rather than leaping by large intervals. In engineering and technology, stufig describes multi‑stage structures or processes, for example a stufiger Verstärker (multi‑stage amplifier) or a workflow that proceeds through sequential stages. In architecture and geology, stufig can describe stepped or terraced forms, such as a hillside with a series of terraces or a stepped design.

Usage and nuance can vary by discipline, but the core idea remains consistent: something that is stufig is composed of or organized into distinct steps, levels, or phases. It is often used in contrast to terms like stufenlos, meaning without steps or continuous. While stufig is common in technical and academic language, its exact connotation depends on context and field.

See also: Stufe, Stufenlos, Mehrstufen, Stepwise.