01
seltsam
strange
Odd, peculiar, or unusual, in a way that causes surprise or slight unease.
example
Es herrschte eine seltsame Stille im Raum, nachdem er gegangen war.
There was a strange silence in the room after he had left.
seltsam
strange
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'seltsam' (strange) is related to 'selten' (rare). The logic behind this is that something that occurs rarely is often perceived as odd or unusual.
EXAMPLE
Er hat einen sehr seltsamen Humor.
He has a very strange sense of humor.
Typical collocations
'Seltsam' (strange) often describes subjective perceptions or impressions. Common combinations are 'ein seltsames Gefühl' (a strange feeling), 'ein seltsamer Geruch' (a strange smell), 'ein seltsames Geräusch' (a strange noise), or 'sich seltsam verhalten' (to behave strangely).
EXAMPLE
Seit dem Vorfall verhält er sich sehr seltsam.
Since the incident, he has been behaving very strangely.
Sentence structure with 'dass'
'Seltsam' (strange) is often used in sentences with 'es' as a placeholder and a following subordinate clause with 'dass' (that). A typical structure is 'Ich finde es seltsam, dass ...' (I find it strange that ...).
EXAMPLE
Es ist seltsam, dass sie sich nicht gemeldet hat.
It is strange that she hasn't gotten in touch.
Compare with
seltsam vs eigen
own / peculiar
'eigen' and 'seltsam' can both express that something does not seem completely normal. 'seltsam' clearly says that something is unusual and may cause surprise or an uneasy feeling. 'eigen' is often more cautious and can also simply mean 'distinctive' or 'different in its own way'. If something is truly odd or hard to explain, 'seltsam' fits better. If you want to say more mildly that someone or something has a distinctive way about them, 'eigen' sounds more natural.
seltsam
Heute war die Stimmung in der Pause seltsam ruhig.
Today the mood during the break was strangely quiet.
eigen
Die Chefin hat einen eigenen Stil, aber das Team kommt gut damit zurecht.
The boss has a distinctive style, but the team handles it well.
In real life
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