Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| lopen | /ˈloːpə(n)/ |
| stappen | /ˈstɑ.pə(n)/ |
| wandelen | /ˈʋɑn.də.lə(n)/ |
The verb lopen means to move on the feet. While it is the general term for walking, it is also frequently used to mean 'to run' when discussing sports or physical activities, such as when saying one is running a marathon.
Which one should you use?
There are different ways to express different types of movement. lopen is a broad term that can mean both 'to walk' and 'to run' depending on the context. In contrast, wandelen specifically implies walking for pleasure or exercise at a leisurely pace. The word stappen implies a more rhythmic, purposeful or heavy way of walking, often used to describe taking strides or stepping.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of lopen is gelopen, which is used for both 'walked' and 'run' in perfect tenses.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈloːpə(n)/
Did you know?
- The verb stappen is used in the expression op stap, which means to go out on the town or go out for a night of socializing.
- The Dutch verb lopen shares the same roots as the English word 'leap'.
Examples in context
- Kan ik daar lopen?Can I walk there?This sentence is useful for asking permission to walk to a certain place using lopen.Tatoeba #7833212 by MarijnKp, translation #434392 by lukaszpp
- Tom kan niet lopen.Tom can't walk.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is unable to walk using lopen.Tatoeba #7814207 by MarijnKp, translation #1868425 by CK
- Die baby kan lopen.That baby knows how to walk.This sentence is useful for describing a baby's ability to walk using lopen.Tatoeba #13695083 by doemaar14, translation #745642 by papabear
- Ik ga graag wandelen in het park.I enjoy walking in the park.
- Ik ga een stukje lopen om mijn hoofd leeg te maken.I'm going for a walk to clear my mind.
- Laten we een wandeling maken langs het strand.Let's take a walk along the beach.
- Ik ga straks wandelen in het park.I will go for a walk in the park later.
- 162 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Julia are deciding how to get to the city center.
- DaanZullen we naar de stad lopen?Shall we walk to the city?
- JuliaJa, dat is een goed idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
- DaanIk wil graag wat meer lopen vandaag.I would like to walk a bit more today.
- JuliaDat is prima, Julia gaat mee.That is fine, Julia will come along.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “walk” translations and entries lopen, stappen, wandelen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lopen, stappen, wandelen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
