स्थान (sthaan)

noun A somewhat formal word for 'place' or 'location'; also extends to 'position/rank' in an order, and appears in the common phrase स्थान लेना (sthaan lenaa) meaning 'to take the place of' or 'to occupy a position.'
Sense 1 : place, location
noun, masculine
Synonyms: जगह (jagah), जगह (jagah, everyday word), स्थल (sthal, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will see स्थान (sthaan) on government forms, signboards, and news reports -- it has that official, written-register flavor, much like 'location' versus the more conversational 'place' in English. In daily chit-chat about where to meet or sit, Delhi folks reach for जगह (jagah) instead.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners overuse स्थान (sthaan) in casual speech where जगह (jagah) is what a native speaker would actually say -- स्थान (sthaan) sounds a notch more formal, closer to 'location' or 'site' than everyday 'place.' 2) In addresses, signage, and official contexts (जन्म स्थान (janm sthaan, birthplace), घटना स्थान (ghatnaa sthaan, site of incident)) स्थान (sthaan) is the natural choice, not जगह (jagah).
Sample Sentences:
कृपया अपना नाम और स्थान यहाँ लिखें। Please write your name and place here.
(kripyaa apnaa naam aur sthaan yahaan likhen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
दुर्घटना का स्थान अभी तक ज्ञात नहीं है। The location of the accident is not yet known.
(durghatnaa kaa sthaan abhii tak gyaat nahiin hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यह मंदिर एक पवित्र स्थान माना जाता है। This temple is considered a sacred place.
(yah mandir ek pavitr sthaan maanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
फॉर्म में जन्म स्थान की जानकारी देना अनिवार्य है। Providing the information of birthplace in the form is mandatory.
(phorm men janm sthaan kii jaankaarii denaa anivaary hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार ने नए स्कूल के लिए स्थान निर्धारित कर दिया है। The government has fixed the location for the new school.
(sarkaar ne nae skool ke lie sthaan nirdhaarit kar diyaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यदि स्थान उपयुक्त होता, तो कारखाना यहीं बनाया जाता। If the location had been suitable, the factory would have been built right here.
(yadi sthaan upyukt hotaa, to kaarkhaanaa yahiin banaayaa jaataa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Passive
समाचार में बताया गया कि घटनास्थल पर पुलिस पहुँच गई है। It was reported in the news that the police have reached the site of the incident.
(samaachaar men bataayaa gayaa ki ghatnaasthal par pulis pahunch gaii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
नक्शे में हर स्थान का नाम अंकित है। The name of every location is marked on the map.
(nakshe men har sthaan kaa naam ankit hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
आवेदन में स्थान का चयन सावधानी से करें। Select the location carefully in the application.
(aavedan men sthaan kaa chayan saavdhaanii se karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यह स्थान ऐतिहासिक दृष्टि से बहुत महत्वपूर्ण रहा है। This place has historically been very significant.
(yah sthaan aitihaasik drishti se bahut mahatvpoorn rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अधिकारी यह सुनिश्चित करेंगे कि प्रत्येक स्थान की जाँच हो। The officials will ensure that every location is inspected.
(adhikaarii yah sunishchit karenge ki pratyek sthaan kii jaanch ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
Sense 2 : position, rank, standing
noun, masculine Used for rank or standing in a sequence, competition, or hierarchy, as in प्रथम स्थान (pratham sthaan, first place/rank).
Synonyms: पद (pad, for a job/office rank), दर्जा (darjaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense is everywhere in Indian schooling and sports culture -- report cards and race results announce कक्षा में प्रथम स्थान (kakshaa men pratham sthaan, 'first place/rank in class'), so it's a word every Indian student grows up hearing.
Sample Sentences:
उसने कक्षा में प्रथम स्थान प्राप्त किया। She got first rank in the class.
(usne kakshaa men pratham sthaan praapt kiyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस दौड़ में मेरा स्थान तीसरा था। My position in this race was third.
(is daud men meraa sthaan tiisraa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह हमेशा अपनी कक्षा में अच्छा स्थान पाता है। He always gets a good rank in his class.
(vah hameshaa apnii kakshaa men achchhaa sthaan paataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगली परीक्षा में तुम्हारा स्थान ज़रूर सुधरेगा। Your rank will surely improve in the next exam.
(aglii pariikshaa men tumhaaraa sthaan zaroor sudhregaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर वह मेहनत करता तो उसका स्थान और ऊँचा होता। If he had worked hard, his rank would have been even higher.
(agar vah mehnat kartaa to uskaa sthaan aur oonchaa hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कंपनी में उसका स्थान अब बहुत ऊँचा है। His position in the company is now very high.
(kampnii men uskaa sthaan ab bahut oonchaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
टीम की रैंकिंग में हमारा स्थान गिर गया है। Our position in the team rankings has dropped.
(tiim kii rainking men hamaaraa sthaan gir gayaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया अपनी योग्यता के अनुसार स्थान प्राप्त करने का प्रयास करें। Please try to attain a position according to your merit.
(kripyaa apnii yogytaa ke anusaar sthaan praapt karne kaa prayaas karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
प्रतियोगिता के परिणामों में विजेताओं का स्थान घोषित किया गया। The winners' rankings were announced in the competition results.
(pratiyogitaa ke parinaamon men vijetaaon kaa sthaan ghoshit kiyaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
शायद इस बार उसे प्रथम स्थान मिल जाए। Perhaps he'll get first place this time.
(shaayad is baar use pratham sthaan mil jaae।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): स्थान (sthaan)
(sg.m.oblique): स्थान (sthaan)
(pl.m.direct): स्थान (sthaan)
(pl.m.oblique): स्थानों (sthaanon)