Stellung

Stellung is a German noun with several related meanings derived from the verb stellen (to place or set). It most generally denotes a position or place in physical space, an arrangement of parts, or a particular state of affairs. The term can also refer to a job or post within an organization (eine Stellung antreten) and, in abstract uses, to a stance or viewpoint (Stellung nehmen, Stellung beziehen: to take a position on an issue). In everyday language, Stellung is used across contexts to express location, arrangement, or attitude.

In military usage, Stellung denotes a defensive or fortified position along a front line. Such positions may be described as frontstellungen or Linienstellungen and are often discussed in the context of defensive warfare, fortifications, or trench warfare (Stellungskrieg).

In technical and mechanical contexts, Stellung refers to the setting or position of a device or component. Examples include the Stellung des Schalters (switch position) and the Nullstellung (zero or reference position). The term is used to describe configuration states of instruments, machines, and control mechanisms.

In other domains, Stellung appears in sports, chess, and linguistics to denote the current arrangement or posture. In chess, the word translates to the position of the pieces on the board; in linguistic discussion, it can refer to the order or placement of sentence elements. Across its uses, Stellung conveys the notion of a specific place, setup, or stance.