to change / stroll
Loading your saved state.
to change
To change or transform; to take on a new form, a new state, or a new character.
Die Arbeitswelt hat sich in den letzten zwanzig Jahren stark gewandelt.
The world of work has changed greatly over the last twenty years.
to stroll
An elevated or poetic way of saying to walk or proceed slowly and deliberately.
Das Paar wandelte schweigend durch den herbstlichen Park.
The couple strolled silently through the autumn park.
to follow in someone's footsteps
To follow a person's example or try to achieve something similar to what they did.
Als junger Physiker wollte er auf den Spuren Albert Einsteins wandeln.
As a young physicist, he wanted to follow in Albert Einstein's footsteps.
'Wandeln' (to change/stroll) is closely related to the noun 'der Wandel' (change) and the verb 'verwandeln' (to transform something actively). All of these words have to do with change or movement.
Der Wandel der Jahreszeiten ist faszinierend.
The change of the seasons is fascinating.
The two main meanings can be clearly distinguished grammatically: 'sich wandeln' (to change) is always reflexive and means 'sich verändern' (to change). 'Wandeln' without 'sich' means 'gehen' (to walk).
Die Mode hat sich über die Jahre stark gewandelt.
Fashion has changed greatly over the years.
In the meaning 'gehen' (to walk), 'wandeln' (to stroll) is very elevated and poetic. It is not used for everyday walking, but to describe a slow, almost solemn movement.
Die Geister sollen um Mitternacht durch das alte Schloss wandeln.
The ghosts are said to stroll through the old castle at midnight.
The expression 'auf jemandes Spuren wandeln' (to follow in someone's footsteps) is a fixed phrase. The person you are emulating is in the genitive ('Marias Spuren') or introduced with 'von' ('den Spuren von Maria').
Mit ihrem ersten Roman wandelt sie auf den Spuren großer Schriftstellerinnen.
With her first novel, she is following in the footsteps of great women writers.
to change
Sich verändern and sich wandeln can both express a change in character or circumstances. Sich wandeln sounds more elevated and emphasizes a gradual, fundamental change more strongly, while sich verändern is more neutral and general. In everyday language, sich verändern is usually the better choice; for a slow, profound transformation, sich wandeln is appropriate.
Die Stadt wandelt sich langsam von einem Industrieort zu einem Kulturzentrum.
The city is slowly transforming from an industrial town into a cultural center.
Die Stadt verändert sich, seit viele neue Menschen dort leben.
The city has been changing since many new people started living there.
