adjectiveadverb

seltsam

strange

Etwas ist ungewöhnlich oder anders als erwartet.

Definition & meaning

The word "seltsam" is an adjective used to describe something that is strange, odd, or peculiar. It refers to things, situations, or behaviors that deviate from what is expected, normal, or familiar. It often carries a neutral to slightly mysterious tone, implying that something is unusual enough to be noticed or to provoke curiosity. While it can sometimes imply that something is "weird," it is generally less harsh than calling something "verrückt" (crazy).

Grammar & Word origin

"seltsam" functions as both an adjective and an adverb. When used as an adverb, it remains uninflected. When used as an adjective before a noun, it follows standard German adjective declension patterns.

The word originates from the Middle High German "seltsæne" and the Old High German "seltsāni". It is composed of two parts:

The root "selten", which means "rare" or "seldom."
The suffix "-sam", which is equivalent to the English suffix "-some" (as in "lonesome") or "-ful", used to indicate a specific tendency or quality.

In its earliest usage, "seltsam" literally meant "rarely seen" or "uncommon." Over the centuries, the meaning shifted from the frequency of an occurrence to the character of the occurrence itself, resulting in the modern meaning of "strange."