footstep
gb/fˈʊtstˌɛp/ us/fˈʊtstˌɛp/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 1700
Maana
maana 0
Nomino
A2
event
1
sound of a foot when walking
The noise you hear when someone’s foot hits the ground while walking.
Muundo wa matumizi:
hear [someone’s] footsteps
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'footstep' with 'footprint', but 'footstep' refers to a sound or act, not a mark on the ground.
Visawe
tread (Slightly more formal or literary term for the sound of a step.)
Vinyume
silence (Absence of any sound, including footsteps.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
hear footsteps
|approaching footsteps
|echoing footsteps
|footsteps behind you
Mada
daily life
|movement
|sound
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- I heard footsteps coming down the hall.
- Her footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.
- He quickened his pace when he heard footsteps behind him.
- The soft footsteps barely disturbed the silence.
- Footsteps approached from around the corner.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I hear footsteps outside my door.
- Her footsteps are very quiet.
- We hear footsteps on the stairs.
- His footsteps are loud on the floor.
Nomino
A2
action
2
act of taking one step
One step that you take when you walk.
Muundo wa matumizi:
take [a] footstep
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may overuse 'footstep' instead of 'step' in everyday speech; 'step' is more common for counting movements.
Visawe
step (Most common general term for moving one foot forward; 'footstep' is more specific and often more descriptive.)
Vinyume
standstill (A state of not moving at all, opposite of taking a step.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
take a footstep
|first footstep
|final footstep
Mada
daily life
|movement
|body
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- He took a few cautious footsteps forward.
- Each footstep brought him closer to the door.
- She paused after only one footstep.
- The soldier advanced with heavy footsteps.
- I counted ten footsteps to the gate.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He took two footsteps.
- She stopped after one footstep.
- We walked five footsteps to the door.
- He moved three footsteps forward.
Nomino
B1
relation
3
path or example set by another
The way someone else lived or worked, which you copy or follow.
Muundo wa matumizi:
follow in [someone’s] footsteps
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may take this expression literally when it is meant figuratively for career or life choices.
Visawe
path (General word for the route or course someone takes, physically or figuratively.)
Vinyume
diverge (To go in a different direction instead of following someone's path.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
follow in footsteps
|trace footsteps
|retrace footsteps
Mada
life choices
|career
|core_vocabulary
|education
Mifano
- She followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a teacher.
- He hopes his son will follow in his footsteps and join the family business.
- Many young athletes try to follow in the footsteps of their idols.
- After college, she retraced her father’s footsteps through Europe.
- They refused to follow in his footsteps and chose a new path.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I want to follow in my father’s footsteps.
- She followed in her sister’s footsteps and became a doctor.
- He followed in his teacher’s footsteps.
- They do not want to follow in his footsteps.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
footstep
IPA
GB/fˈʊtstˌɛp/
US/fˈʊtstˌɛp/
Silabi na mkazo
foot - step (silabi 2)
Stress on 1st syllable (foot)
Maumbo ya neno
Noun
- Base: footstep
- Plural: footsteps
Familia ya neno
Semi
echo of footsteps
1/ˈɛkoʊ əv fˈʊtstˌɛps/
fixed phrase
literary
sound reflection of steps
The repeating sound of steps when it bounces off walls or surfaces.
Mifano
- The echo of footsteps filled the empty hall.
- We could hear the echo of our footsteps on the stone floor.
retracing one's footsteps
1/ɹitɹˈeɪsɪŋ wˈʌnz fˈʊtstˌɛps/
fixed phrase
go back the same way you came
To go back over the same way you walked before, usually to find something lost or remember something.
Mifano
- He retraced his footsteps to find his lost wallet.
- We spent the afternoon retracing our footsteps through the old town.
follow in someone's footsteps
1/fˈɑloʊ ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz fˈʊtstˌɛps/
idiom
Take same path as someone else
To do the same job or live like someone did before you, often a family member.
Mifano
- She followed in her mother's footsteps and became a teacher.
- She followed in her father’s footsteps and became a lawyer.
- He followed in his father's footsteps and became a doctor.
- Many young athletes hope to follow in their heroes’ footsteps.
- Many young musicians try to follow in the footsteps of famous artists.
- Many young athletes hope to follow in the footsteps of their heroes.