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zelf. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
zelf, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
zelf in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
zelf you have here. The definition of the word
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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
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
- Synonym: alleen
Ik kan dat niet zelf, kun je me helpen?- I can't do that (by) myself, can you help me?
Derived terms
Descendants
Noun
zelf n (uncountable)
- self