Stand
/stænd/
"Stand" is one of the most versatile everyday words in English, functioning as both verb and noun. Depending on context, it can describe a physical posture, the act of tolerating something, a market or exhibition stall, or a firmly held position on an issue.
1. stehen
When someone is in an upright position or located somewhere; the core meaning of the verb.
She stood at the window, watching the rain fall.
Sie stand am Fenster und schaute dem Regen zu.
The old lighthouse has stood on this cliff for over two centuries.
Der alte Leuchtturm steht seit mehr als zwei Jahrhunderten auf diesem Felsen.
He stood up and walked out of the room without a word.
Er stand auf und verließ schweigend das Zimmer.
2. aushalten
· figurative
When someone endures or cannot tolerate something unpleasant; most frequent in the negative construction "can't stand".
I can't stand the noise from the construction site next door.
Ich kann den Lärm von der Baustelle nebenan nicht aushalten.
She couldn't stand waiting around without knowing what was happening.
Sie konnte es nicht aushalten, herumzuwarten, ohne zu wissen, was passierte.
3. Stand
· commercial
As a noun for a market stall or exhibition booth; a direct cognate in German (der Stand).
Our company had a stand at the technology trade fair.
Unser Unternehmen hatte einen Stand auf der Technologiemesse.
She bought fresh strawberries from a stand at the farmers' market.
Sie kaufte frische Erdbeeren an einem Stand auf dem Wochenmarkt.
4. Haltung
· figurative
For a stated position or opinion on an issue; "Standpunkt" is also possible depending on context.
The senator took a firm stand against the proposed budget cuts.
Der Senator bezog eine klare Haltung gegen die geplanten Haushaltskürzungen.
The environmental group took a public stand in favor of the new legislation.
Die Umweltorganisation bezog öffentlich Haltung zugunsten des neuen Gesetzes.
Notes
"Can't stand" translates as either "nicht aushalten" or the slightly more colloquial "nicht ausstehen können". The noun is a true German cognate for a stall or booth (der Stand), while the abstract sense of a position or opinion requires "Haltung" or "Standpunkt". Note that the related compounds "withstand" (widerstehen) and "understand" (verstehen) carry entirely different meanings.