adjective
strange, odd, weird
B1
seltsam = strange, odd, or weird. Gradable: comparative seltsamer, superlative am seltsamsten. Regular adjective, no irregular forms. Antonym: normal. Used to describe unusual behaviour, situations or impressions; can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context. Common in spoken and written German.
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Das Verhalten des Hundes war gestern wirklich seltsam.
The dog's behavior was really strange yesterday.
Er hat eine seltsame Angewohnheit, beim Reden die Augen zu schließen.
He has an odd habit of closing his eyes when he talks.
Der Zeuge beschrieb das Verhalten als seltsam, weil die Person mitten in der Nacht unterwegs war.
The witness described the behaviour as strange because the person was out in the middle of the night.
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Picture a small, odd-shaped object labeled 'seltsam' on a shelf — it looks strange and out of place.
seltsam sounds a bit like 'self-some' — imagine something about yourself that feels odd.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Common adjective for describing things, behaviour or sensations that feel out of the ordinary. Collocates with Verhalten, Gefühl, Ton, etc.