stupnici

Stupnici is a term found in several Slavic languages as a plural form of a base noun often related to the idea of a step, degree, or scale. Because it occurs in different languages with different meanings, there is no single, universal definition of stupnici. The word typically derives from a common Slavic root related to stepping or progression, with the suffix -nica forming abstract nouns or collective senses.

In linguistic and cultural contexts, stupnici most commonly appears in two broad senses:

- Musical scales: In languages such as Czech and Slovak, stupnice denotes a musical scale or collection of pitches (for example, major or minor scales). In this usage, the term refers to the organized sequence of notes used in a musical key.

- Scales of measurement or rating: In several Slavic languages, words formed from the same root refer to a scale, gradation, or rating system used to classify or measure something (such as a five-point or ten-point scale).

Usage can vary by dialect and language. In some contexts, related forms may also appear with meanings connected to steps or stages within a process, or, in certain dialects, to a set of stairs or steps, though this last sense is less uniform across languages.

See also: stupnica (singular form in some languages), related terms in neighboring languages, and discussions of musical scales and rating systems in Slavic linguistics.