The German word for position or stance is die Stellung.
It’s used to describe physical location, employment roles, points of view, and strategic placements. From military history to job interviews, Stellung in German is everywhere.

It’s also one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German—a high-utility word with a wide range of uses, both formal and casual.

Gender and Pronunciation

It’s a feminine noun: die Stellung.
Want to learn gender rules that actually work? Our video lesson makes them easy to remember and apply.

Pronunciation:
Stellung is pronounced [SHTELL-oong]

• “SHTELL” rhymes with “bell”

• “oong” like “song,” but tighter
  Two syllables: SHTELL-oong

Example sentences

Er hat eine gute Stellung in der Firma.

He has a good position in the company.

Was ist deine Stellung zu diesem Thema?

What’s your stance on this topic?

Die Soldaten hielten ihre Stellung.

The soldiers held their position.

Nuance and usage tips

💼 In professional contexts, Stellung refers to a job or role—often interchangeable with Position, though Stellung can sound a bit more traditional or formal.

🧠 It also means viewpoint or stance—used in phrases like Stellung nehmen zu (to take a stance on something), which is common in academic writing and debate.

⚔️ In military and strategic contexts, it refers to a physical position or defensive placement—you’ll hear it in documentaries or historical writing.

🛏️ And in certain informal or medical contexts, it can mean body position—though in this sense, Position is becoming more common.

How does this word come up in real conversations?

"Er hat die Stellung als Abteilungsleiter übernommen."

He took over the position as department head.

"Sie hat in der Diskussion klar Stellung bezogen."

She clearly took a stance in the discussion.

"Die Stellung der Figuren auf dem Schachbrett ist wichtig."

The positioning of the pieces on the chessboard is important.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Klara: Hast du die Stelle bekommen?
Omar: Ja, ich fang nächste Woche in meiner neuen Stellung an.
Klara: Glückwunsch! Was genau machst du da?
Omar: Projektleitung im IT-Bereich.

Translation:
Klara: Did you get the job?
Omar: Yes, I’m starting my new position next week.
Klara: Congrats! What exactly will you be doing?
Omar: Project management in IT.

Grammatical case examples

Nominative:
Die Stellung ist unbesetzt.

The position is vacant.

Accusative:
Ich habe die Stellung verloren.

I lost the position.

Dative:
Mit der Stellung bin ich zufrieden.

I’m satisfied with the position.

Genitive:
Die Verantwortung der Stellung ist groß.

The responsibility of the position is significant.

Other ways to say position or stance in German

While Stellung is a flexible and common way to say position or stance in German, the word you choose may vary by context. Position is often used interchangeably in business and physical descriptions, especially in modern or international contexts. If you’re talking about point of view, Meinung (opinion) or Haltung (attitude/posture) may be better suited. For job openings, you’ll also see Stelle, which often refers to a job vacancy rather than the role itself. In physical contexts like sports or yoga, Position is often preferred for clarity.

Word variations and tidbits

The word Stellung appears in many compound nouns. A Stellenanzeige is a job advertisement, and a Stellungswechsel is a change of position (professionally or strategically). In grammar, Satzstellung refers to word order in a sentence. In debates or essays, Stellungnahme is a written or spoken statement of opinion. Even in relationships, Stellung can surface—such as soziale Stellung (social status) or zwischenmenschliche Stellung (personal role). The word bridges the physical, social, and abstract with ease.

🧠 Fun fact: The verb stellen (to place/put) is the root of Stellung. While Stellung is more static, stellen implies action. Germans love building from simple roots—and Stellung is a perfect example of how a verb becomes a structured, layered noun.

📘 Duden entry for Stellung
🎥 Ready to strengthen your position in German? Our free video course teaches the 1000 most essential nouns—clearly, memorably, and with real-life examples.

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