Etymologically
Log in

zelfs

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 21 October 2026 at 15:25. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

Forms

zelfs[1] Regional forms are zulfs and zölfs in the north-east and zelles in West Friesland and the east.[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch selves, the genitive of zelf used as an adverb.[3][4][5] The same frozen genitive is Middle Low German selves and Middle High German sëlbes, beside sëlbest, whence modern German selbst.[5][6][2] Middle Dutch also wrote it ⟨selfs⟩ and used it as a pronoun meaning “self”.[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adverb is first recorded in 1285, in a rhymed text saying that the publican did not even dare raise his eyes to God.[3][9][4] In 1287 a West Flemish text uses it of a creature whose mouth does not open “to eat or to croak, and not even to drink”.[3][8]

Semantic evolution

In Middle Dutch selves meant both “even” and, as a pronoun, “self”, with phrases like van selfs “of its own accord”, modern vanzelf.[7] In the 17th century the uninflected zelf was often used for zelfs as well, a use now obsolete except in south-east Flanders.[2] From the 17th century zelfs also marks a stronger statement after a weaker one, “what is more”, often with ja before it, as in a Bible text of 1637.[2][10]

Negerhollands and Sranan Tongo (Sranan Tongo srefi) took the word over, and Afrikaans has selfs.[11][1]

Timeline

  • 1285 – Middle Dutch selfs “even” in a rhymed Bible text.[3][9]
  • 1287 – Selues in a West Flemish text.[3][8]
  • 1615 – Early modern zelfs with the sense “even” is recorded.[2]
  • 1637 – Ja selfs “indeed even” in a Bible text.[2]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. even: against all expectation: zelfs de leraar wist het niet, even the teacher didn't know.[10][1][12]
  2. What is more, indeed: het was koud, zelfs ijskoud, it was cold, freezing even.[10][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  3. ^ a b c d e Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
  4. ^ a b Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
  5. ^ a b Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  7. ^ a b Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  8. ^ a b c Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
  9. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  10. ^ a b c Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  11. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  12. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org