How to pronounce step
Say it like STEP. Step is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- STEP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Step pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STEPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of step
American and British speakers say step in essentially the same way: /stɛp/ in the US and /stɛp/ in the UK.
British respelling: STEP.
What does step mean?
- any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal“the situation called for strong measures”“the police took steps to reduce crime”
- the distance covered by a step“he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig”
- the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down“he walked with unsteady steps”
- shift or move by taking a step“step back”
- put down or press the foot, place the foot“For fools rush in where angels fear to tread”“step on the brake”
- cause (a computer) to execute a single command
Where does step come from?
Cognate with West Frisian stappe (“to step”), North Frisian stape (“to walk, trudge”), Dutch stappen (“to step, walk”), Walloon steper (“to walk away, leave”), German stapfen (“to trudge, stomp, plod”) and further to Slavic Polish stąpać (“
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with step
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of step.
Words that sound like step
Questions about saying step
How do you pronounce step?
Say STEP. The American pronunciation is /stɛp/. In British English it is /stɛp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in step?
Step is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STEP.
Do Americans and Brits say step the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /stɛp/ and the British form is /stɛp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as step?
Step sounds the same as steppe in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.