zelf

See also: -zelf

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch self, from Old Dutch self, *selvo, from Proto-Germanic *selbaz, from Proto-Indo-European *selbʰ- (“one's own”), from *s(w)e- (“separate, apart”). Compare Low German sulv, West Frisian self, English self, German selbst, selber, Danish selv.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /zɛlf/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: zelf
• Rhymes: -ɛlf

Adverb

zelf

1. (intensifier) oneself, referring to the subject of a sentence: myself, yourself, itself, ourselves, themselves etc.

   Zelf ging hij er niet heen.

   He himself did not go there.

2. oneself, by oneself, alone

   Ik kan dat niet zelf, kun je me helpen?

   I can't do that (by) myself, can you help me?

Synonyms

• (alone): alleen

Derived terms

• zichzelf
• mijzelf, mezelf
• jijzelf, jezelf
• uzelf
• vanzelf
• zijzelf
• -zelf
• zelfverdediging

Related terms

• zelfde

Descendants

• Berbice Creole Dutch: selfu
• Javindo: sellef
• Jersey Dutch: zäl'f
• Negerhollands: self, sel
• Petjo: self

Noun

zelf n (uncountable)

1. self