Definition
A single movement of the foot when walking; also used figuratively to mean a step or action toward a goal.
Example
Он сделал первый шаг к новой жизни.
Show translation
He took the first step toward a new life.
Etymology
From Proto-Slavic *šagъ, meaning "a stride or pace." Cognates appear in Ukrainian шаг and Polish szach. The root is also linked to the verb шагать ("to stride"), both deriving from the same Proto-Slavic base related to movement of the legs.
Cultural note
The phrase **первый шаг** ("the first step") is deeply embedded in Russian idiom — used in everything from motivational speech to political rhetoric. Russians also use **шаг за шагом** ("step by step") as an equivalent of the English phrase, making this word an excellent entry point into figurative Russian. Note: **шаг** can also denote the "pitch" or "interval" in technical contexts (e.g., thread pitch, musical step), so context matters.