German Conversation · Level 43
73 words
German word
seltsam
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈzɛltzaːm/
Meaning
- adjectivestrange
Example
Das ist seltsamer, als ich dachte.
This is stranger than I thought.
More examples
Nach dem Unfall fühlte er sich seltsam.
After the accident, he felt strange.
Core concept
A normal pattern interrupted by a detail that makes the whole scene difficult to explain.
Common phrases
etwas seltsam finden
find something strange
sich seltsam fühlen
feel strange
eine seltsame Situation
a strange situation
Similar words
komisch: Strange in a humorous way that may prompt laughter.
merkwürdig: Puzzling enough to attract notice and defy easy explanation.
ungewöhnlich: Rare or uncommon rather than part of everyday experience.
kurios: Strikingly unusual, with an amusing and intriguing quality.
Definition in German
Etwas, das von der Norm abweicht und dadurch merkwürdig oder schwer zu erklären wirkt.
Word origin
The adjective comes from Middle High German seltsan and originally described something rare or remarkable; its meaning gradually shifted toward something strange.
Usage tips
- Seltsamer is the comparative form of seltsam, and the pattern seltsamer als means stranger than.
Other meanings
- oddadjective
- weirdadjective
Opposites
- normalnormaladjective
- gewöhnlichordinaryadjective
Related words
- Seltsamkeitstrangenessnoun
- seltsamerweisestrangelyadverb