Learning Russian is not an easy task and it’s important to stay positive while tackling numerous grammar rules and even more numerous exceptions to them. So today’s word is позитив. While the word is a direct transfer from English into Russian, there are a few important differences to keep in mind.

First, the stress in the Russian позитив falls on the last vowel. Second, while English word “positive” is an adjective, the Russian позитив is a noun (with an adjective позитивный). Finally, in Russian позитив means a happy state of mind, a joyful attitude, a sense of gladness, an optimistic view of things.

Настройте себя на позитив! – Channel positive attitude!

Экономика показала определённый позитив. – Economy showed a certain optimistic outlook.

Инвесторы сохраняют умеренный позитив. – Investors remain moderately optimistic.

Бег – это позитив и польза для здоровья. – Jogging is joyful and beneficial to your health.

Компания создаёт атмосферу позитива как для клиентов, так и для работников – A company creates joyful environment for both the clients and the employees.

Do you notice something here? Yep, all these phrases include the singular позитив. What about the plural позитивы? Does позитивы means loads of happiness and joy? Not at all. Sometimes, the plural позитивы is used to mean “pluses” as in

Позитивы и негативы предлагаемой реформы – Pluses and minuses of the proposed reform

Update: I stand corrected (thank you, Minority) on this one above – it does sound a bit strange and uncomfortable in Russian. A much better way of saying “Pluses and minuses of the proposed reform” is

Позитивные и негативные стороны предлагаемой реформы

However, the plural позитивы might rely on the second meaning of the singular позитив. Back in the olden days of analog photography, you’d take a roll of film, develop it and print black and white pictures known as позитивы. Unsurprisingly, the picture proofs were called негативы. Oh, and if you had a slide projector, you would use it with диапозитивы (slides).

But that is ancient history. So let’s focus on positive and tune into Радио Позитив, a Brooklyn-based Russian radio station that is also available via Internet. And if you have a few hours today to spend studying Russian, then search YouTube for “позитив”.