Spanish Conversation · Level 15
87 words
Spanish word
paso
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈpaso/
Meaning
- masculine nounstep
Example
Di un paso hacia la puerta.
I took a step toward the door.
More examples
Estaba a un paso de rendirse, pero siguió.
He was one step away from giving up, but he kept going.
Core concept
A small advance or stage.
Common phrases
dar un paso atrás
take a step back
estar a un paso de
be one step away from
dar el paso
take the plunge
Similar words
avance: A stage of forward progress or gradual advancement.
pasito: A very small, light step that moves the foot only a little.
zancada: A large, forceful stride that moves the body far forward.
Definition in Spanish
Avance pequeño en una acción o proceso; asimismo, acción de mover un pie para caminar y, por extensión, un paso o vía que permite pasar de un lado a otro.
Word origin
From Latin passus 'step, stride', paso develops in Spanish from the idea of a physical stride to mean a small advance or stage in an action or process and, by extension, routes that permit passage.
Usage tips
- In expressions about progress (paso a paso, dar pasos), paso refers to stages of progress rather than physical movement, and surrounding verbs indicate the intended sense.