talking to oneself / soliloquy
das Selbstgespräch, die Selbstgespräche
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talking to oneself
Speaking aloud to oneself without another person taking part in the conversation. Someone may express their own thoughts, feelings, or reflections.
Beim Warten auf den Zug führte er ein leises Selbstgespräch.
While waiting for the train, he was quietly talking to himself.
soliloquy
A monologue in a play or literary work in which a character expresses their thoughts and feelings without speaking to another character.
Im zweiten Akt hält die Hauptfigur ein langes Selbstgespräch über ihre Schuld.
In the second act, the main character delivers a long soliloquy about their guilt.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Selbstgespräche |
| genitive | des Selbstgespräches |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Selbstgespräch | die Selbstgespräche |
| accusative | das Selbstgespräch | die Selbstgespräche |
| dative | dem Selbstgespräch | den Selbstgesprächen |
| genitive | des Selbstgespräches des Selbstgesprächs | der Selbstgespräche |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Selbstgespräch' (talking to oneself / soliloquy) is made up of 'selbst' (self) and 'Gespräch' (conversation). The word therefore refers to a conversation in which the person speaking is also the only participant.
Sein lautes Selbstgespräch wurde von den Nachbarn gehört.
The neighbors heard him talking loudly to himself.
For the everyday meaning, the phrase 'ein Selbstgespräch führen' (to talk to oneself) is particularly common. The verb 'führen' (to conduct) describes the verbal action even though no second person is involved.
Auf dem langen Spaziergang führte sie ein ausführliches Selbstgespräch.
During the long walk, she talked to herself at length.
In its theatrical and literary meaning, 'Selbstgespräch' (soliloquy) often occurs in connection with a character, scene, or act. There, it refers to a deliberately crafted passage in which a character's thoughts become audible.
Das Selbstgespräch der Figur eröffnet die letzte Szene des Theaterstücks.
The character's soliloquy opens the final scene of the play.
