die
Position
📍 What does "die Position" mean?
The German word die Position (feminine) has several meanings, often determined by context:
- Spatial place / Location: Describes where something or someone is located. Example: Die Position des Autos auf der Karte. (The position of the car on the map.)
- Rank / Order: Refers to a place in a hierarchy or sequence. Example: Sie erreichte die erste Position im Rennen. (She reached the first position in the race.)
- Job / Employment: A professional function or job. Example: Er hat eine neue Position als Manager angenommen. (He accepted a new position as manager.)
- Stance / Opinion: The attitude or view on a specific topic. Example: Sie vertrat eine klare Position in der Debatte. (She represented a clear position/stance in the debate.)
- Posture: The way someone sits, stands, or lies. Example: Nimm eine entspannte Position ein. (Assume a relaxed position/posture.)
🚨 Important: In German, Position is always feminine (die Position).
🧐 Grammar of "Position" in Detail
Die Position is a feminine noun. It is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Position |
| Genitive | der | Position |
| Dative | der | Position |
| Accusative | die | Position |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Positionen |
| Genitive | der | Positionen |
| Dative | den | Positionen |
| Accusative | die | Positionen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nominative: Die Position des Stuhls ist unbequem. (The position of the chair is uncomfortable.)
- Genitive: Die Beschreibung der Position war ungenau. (The description of the position was inaccurate.)
- Dative: Ich stimme mit der Position des Autors überein. (I agree with the author's position/stance.)
- Accusative: Wir müssen die Position sofort ändern. (We must change the position immediately.)
- Plural: Das Unternehmen hat mehrere offene Positionen ausgeschrieben. (The company has advertised several open positions.)
💡 How to use "die Position"?
The usage of die Position depends heavily on its specific meaning:
- In a professional context: Often used for job advertisements or internal descriptions (e.g., leitende Position - leading position, Teilzeit-Position - part-time position).
- In sports: Refers to the ranking (erste Position - first position) or the role within the team (Spielmacher-Position - playmaker position).
- In debates/discussions: To express opinions or viewpoints (eine feste Position vertreten - to hold a firm position/stance, seine Position darlegen - to explain one's position).
- Geographically/Spatially: Often in technical contexts or for directions (GPS-Position - GPS position, die Position auf der Landkarte - the position on the map).
- In finance: Refers to held securities or currencies (eine Long-Position eingehen - to take a long position).
Compared to Stelle (place, job), Position is often more formal or specific, especially in a professional context. Standort (location) usually refers only to the geographical place, while Position is more flexible.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Position"
- For the article 'die': Many German nouns ending in -ion are feminine (like die Aktion, die Nation, die Diskussion). Think: 'The nation took a strong position' - and 'nation' feels vaguely feminine, helping you remember 'die'. Or, remember the common pattern: words ending in -ion are usually 'die'.
- For the meanings: Imagine someone taking a yoga position (posture). This specific position (location) gives them a better position (rank) in the class. They express their position (opinion) that yoga helps find a new position (job) in life.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Location: die Bewegung (movement), die Orientierungslosigkeit (disorientation)
- Rank: die Bedeutungslosigkeit (insignificance)
- Stance: die Unentschlossenheit (indecision), die Neutralität (neutrality), die Uneinigkeit (disagreement)
⚠️ Similar but different words:
- die Disposition: Means rather predisposition, disposal, or scheduling.
- die Komposition: Refers to composition (e.g., music, picture).
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum hat der Computer Probleme, seine Position zu finden?
Weil er ständig seinen Standort wechselt!
English: Why does the computer have trouble finding its position?
Because it keeps changing its site (location)! (Pun on Website/Standort)
📜 Poem about Position
German:
Die Position, mal hier, mal dort,
ein fester Platz, ein sich'rer Hort.
Im Job, im Spiel, im Lebenslauf,
nimmt sie beständig ihren Lauf.
Mal hoch, mal tief, im Rang bestellt,
mal Meinung, die die Welt erhellt.
Ob räumlich, geistig, ganz egal,
die Position ist erste Wahl.
English Translation:
The position, now here, now there,
A fixed place, a safe lair.
In job, in game, in life's career,
It constantly runs, year by year.
Sometimes high, sometimes low, in rank assigned,
Sometimes opinion, illuminating mankind.
Whether spatial, mental, it doesn't matter at all,
The position is the first call.
🧩 Little Riddle
German:
Ich kann ein Ort auf einer Karte sein,
auch deine Meinung, fein und klein.
Im Job bin ich oft sehr begehrt,
im Rennen manchmal Goldes wert.
Was bin ich?
English:
I can be a place upon a map,
Also your opinion, in a snap.
In jobs, I'm often highly sought,
In races, sometimes worth a lot.
What am I?
Solution: die Position
🌐 Other Information
Word Origin: The word "Position" comes from the Latin word positio, meaning "placement, position, setting". It entered German via French.
Compound Words: There are many compound words with "Position", e.g.:
- Ausgangsposition (starting position)
- Schlüsselposition (key position)
- Positionspapier (position paper)
- Verhandlungsposition (negotiating position)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Position?
The German word Position is always feminine. The correct article is die (die Position, plural: die Positionen).