Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| seltsam | /ˈzɛltˌzaːm/ |
| sonderbar | /ˈzɔndəʁˌbaːʁ/ /ˈsɔndəʁˌbaːʁ/ |
| komisch | /ˈkoːmɪʃ/ |
To express that something is not normal, you can use several different words depending on the nuance you want to convey. seltsam is the most neutral and versatile way to say that something is strange or odd. sonderbar is used to describe something peculiar or unusual. komisch is used to denote something odd or peculiar, but it can also mean funny. If you want to emphasize that something is utterly bizarre or even crazy, you might use verrückt.
Which one should you use?
While seltsam is a neutral term, sonderbar often carries a slightly more formal or literary tone and implies something is peculiar. komisch can be used in both formal and informal situations to mean strange, but in an informal context, it is frequently used to mean 'funny'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈzɛltˌzaːm/
Did you know?
- The word seltsam is actually a distant relative of the English word 'seldom'.
- In modern German, sonderbar is rarely heard in casual street conversation and is more common in novels and old texts.
- While seltsam is neutral, describing a person as seltsam can be perceived as a subtle social judgment depending on the tone.
Examples in context
- Das ist ja seltsam.It's strange.This sentence is useful for expressing that something is strange using seltsam.Tatoeba #3217714 by freddy1, translation #2123577 by CK
- Alles ist so seltsam.Everything is so strange.This sentence is useful for expressing that everything is strange using seltsam.Tatoeba #8056219 by Luiaard, translation #2891182 by CK
- Tom ist sehr seltsam.Tom is very strange.This sentence is useful for describing a person as being strange using seltsam.Tatoeba #8722354 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6357879 by CK
- Der Vorfall war merkwürdigThe incident was strange
- Sein Verhalten war seltsamHis behavior was strange
- Das Haus hatte eine fremdartige ArchitekturThe house had a strange architecture
- Ich finde das sehr komischI find that very strange
- Das war echt merkwürdigThat was really strange
- 418 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are walking in a quiet park.
- JuliaEs ist so seltsam hier.It is so strange here.
- FelixJa, die Stimmung ist seltsam.Yes, the atmosphere is strange.
- JuliaHast du das seltsame Geräusch gehört?Did you hear that strange noise?
- FelixNein, aber es ist wirklich seltsam.No, but it really is strange.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “strange” translations and entries seltsam, sonderbar, komisch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries komisch, seltsam, sonderbar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
