How to Pronounce Step

To pronounce "step", say STEP — one syllable, IPA /stɛp/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

step

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/stɛp/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “step”

"step" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with schlep and sidestep, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: steppe, stepp — easy to mix up when writing.

What does step mean?

noun

  1. An advance or movement made from one foot to the other; a pace.
  2. A rest, or one of a set of rests, for the foot in ascending or descending, as a stair, or a rung of a ladder.

verb

  1. To move the foot in walking; to advance or recede by raising and moving one of the feet to another resting place, or by moving both feet in succession.
  2. To walk; to go on foot; especially, to walk a little distance.

    “to step to one of the neighbors”

Synonyms

stride

Hear “step” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with step

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

schlepsidestepoverstepsteppemissteplockstepschlepprepshlephepfootstepdep

Related words

pacestridetreadfootfallfootstepfootprintfootmarkstair

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "step"?▾

"Step" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "step"?▾

The IPA transcription of "step" is /stɛp/.

What does "step" mean?▾

Step: An advance or movement made from one foot to the other; a pace.

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