This is the 11577th most frequent German word.
stolpern
"Stolpern" means "to stumble" in English.
This usage of 'stolpern' describes the literal action of tripping over an obstacle.
Ich habe auf der Straße einen Stein nicht gesehen und bin gestolpert.
I didn't see a rock on the street and tripped.
Here 'stolpern' is used metaphorically to describe making verbal mistakes while speaking.
Während ich das Gedicht vortrug, bin ich über meine eigenen Worte gestolpert.
While reciting the poem, I stumbled over my own words.
In this sentence, 'stolpern' refers to figuratively encountering an obstacle or setback, in this case, a scandal.