stajanje

Stajanje is a noun used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian. It denotes the act or state of standing, and it is formed from the verb stajati (to stand) with the suffix -anje, a common derivational pattern that turns verbs into deverbative nouns expressing a process or result. The term can refer to a physical stance (the act of standing) as well as to a broader state of remaining in a location.

In everyday language, stajanje appears in phrases describing motion or position, such as stajanje na mjestu (standing in one place) or duže stajanje (prolonged standing). It is often used as a neutral, descriptive term in both spoken and written Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian.

In traffic terminology, stajanje has a more specific regulatory sense. It describes the act of stopping a vehicle for a short period, typically for a brief moment or at a curb, as distinct from zaustavljanje, which may imply a longer stop or parking. Road signs may prohibit stajanje (stopping) or unambiguously state zabranjeno stajanje i zaustavljanje (no stopping or standing).

Etymologically, stajanje shares its root with stajati, and belongs to a broader set of deverbal nouns formed with -anje in South Slavic languages. While the core meaning centers on standing, context—such as everyday description or traffic law—determines its precise interpretation. See also stajati and related terms for comparative usage.