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

Audio (file)
Rhymes: -ɛlf

Adverb

zelf

(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.
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

Noun

zelf n (uncountable)

self