Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stance'

English Word: stance

Key Russian Translations:

• позиция [pɐˈzʲiʦɨjə] - [Formal; used in discussions or debates]
• поза [ˈpozə] - [Informal; often in physical or metaphorical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal writing, speeches, and everyday conversations about opinions or postures)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions for 'позиция' and basic vocabulary for 'поза')

Pronunciation (Russian):

позиция: [pɐˈzʲiʦɨjə]

Note on позиция: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'zʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

поза: [ˈpozə]

Note on поза: This is a straightforward word with stress on the first syllable; it resembles English "pose" but with a softer vowel.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Position or attitude on an issue (e.g., political or ideological stance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• позиция - Used in formal contexts like debates, essays, or professional discussions to denote an opinion or viewpoint.

Usage Examples:

• Моя позиция по этому вопросу остается неизменной.

  My stance on this issue remains unchanged.

• В политической позиции партии отражены интересы народа.

  The party's stance reflects the interests of the people.

• Он четко изложил свою позицию на конференции.

  He clearly outlined his stance at the conference.

• Позиция правительства по экологии вызывает споры.

  The government's stance on ecology is controversial.

Meaning 2: Physical posture or pose (e.g., body stance in sports or dance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• поза - Used in informal or descriptive contexts, such as fitness, art, or everyday descriptions of body position.

Usage Examples:

• Ее поза во время йоги была идеальной.

  Her stance during yoga was perfect.

• Боец принял боевую позу перед атакой.

  The fighter adopted a fighting stance before the attack.

• В моделировании важно поддерживать правильную позу.

  In modeling, it's important to maintain the right stance.

• Дети приняли забавную позу для фотографии.

  The children struck a funny stance for the photo.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'позиция' (a feminine noun), it follows the standard first declension pattern with regular inflections. It changes based on case and number, which is common for Russian nouns.

For 'поза' (also a feminine noun), it has similar regular inflections but is less frequently inflected in casual use.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: мнение (mneniye) - More about opinion; used interchangeably in ideological contexts. подход (podkhod) - Emphasizes approach rather than fixed stance.
• Antonyms: противоположная позиция (protivopolozhnaya pozitsiya) - Directly opposite view. нейтральность (neytralnosc) - Neutrality, especially for 'позиция'.

Related Phrases:

• Занять позицию - To take a stance; used in debates or decision-making contexts.
• Поза готовности - A stance of readiness; common in sports or military descriptions.
• Изменить позу - To change one's stance; metaphorical for shifting opinions or physical positions.

Usage Notes:

'Позиция' is the more precise translation for an abstract or formal stance (e.g., political), while 'поза' suits physical contexts. English speakers should note that Russian nouns like these require case agreement, so always adjust based on sentence structure (e.g., use genitive after prepositions like 'по'). In formal writing, prefer 'позиция' over 'поза' to avoid sounding casual. When multiple translations exist, choose based on context: ideological vs. physical.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse case endings, e.g., using nominative 'позиция' in genitive contexts like "по позиции" (incorrect: should be "по позиции" but wait for full sentence). Correct: "Моя позиция по вопросу" (My stance on the issue). Explanation: Russian requires genitive after 'по' for topics.
• Another error is overusing 'поза' for abstract ideas, e.g., saying "Моя поза по политике" instead of "Моя позиция по политике." Correct: Use 'позиция' for non-physical stances to maintain formality.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing a 'позиция' on social or political issues is highly valued, often linked to historical events like the Soviet era where public stances could have significant consequences. Words like 'позиция' carry connotations of intellectual depth and commitment, reflecting Russia's emphasis on debate in literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• идеология
• аттитюд (attityud) - A loanword for attitude
• постановка (postanovka) - In contexts of positioning or staging