selber German · revision 36198

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=8th century, Old High German|origins=gem-pro *selbaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈzɛlbər/, [ˈzɛl.bɐ]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''selber''' (demonstrative, invariable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|sëlber]], the strong nominative singular masculine of [[m|gmh|selp|t=self, same]], fixed as an indeclinable form.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DWB|16, 430)^(Wiktionary) This continues [[inh|goh|selb]], [[inh|gem-pro|*selbaz|t=self]].^(Kluge 2011|841)^(Kroonen 2013)^(Wiktionary) The same word is [[got|𐍃𐌹𐌻𐌱𐌰|tr=silba]], [[non|sjálfr]], [[ang|seolf]], [[ofs|self]] and [[osx|self]], and today [[nl|zelf]], [[en|self]] and [[sv|själv]].^(Kluge 2011|841)^(Kroonen 2013)^(Pfeifer 1993) The other form, [[selbst]], is the adverbial genitive with an added /t/.^(Kluge 2011|841)^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ There are no certain comparisons outside Germanic.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) Kluge and Pfeifer first compare [[xve|sselboisselboi|t=themselves]], with the doubling also found in [[goh|selbselbo]].^(Kluge 2011|841)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge further connects [[sga|selb]] and [[cy|helw]] “possession”, from [[ine-pro|*sel-wo-]], and cites Oettinger's analysis as the reflexive [[ine-pro|*s(w)e-]] with a suffix of belonging and the adjective ending [[ine-pro|*-bʰo-]].^(Kluge 2011|841) Pfeifer's account is similar: the pronoun stem [[m|ine-pro|*se-]], the l-suffix of [[la|tālis]], and the suffix of kind.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''selb'' is recorded from the 8th century in glosses, the ''Abrogans'' and the Isidor translation, and then in Tatian, Otfrid and Notker, meaning “self, the same, own”.^(Köbler AHD)^(EWA|7, 1076)^(Schützeichel 2012|275) The masculine nominative ''selbēr'' was one of its inflected forms.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle High German ''selber'' was correct only in the nominative singular masculine and the genitive and dative singular feminine, but from the end of the 12th century it spread to other cases as an invariable form.^(DWB|16, 430) Berthold of Regensburg writes “vor gote selber” (“before God himself”).^(Lexer 1872|2, 861) It never replaced the genitive.^(DWB|16, 430) The Grimms reject the old idea that it was a comparative of ''selb''.^(DWB|16, 430) In the standard language ''selbst'' became the usual form, and ''selber'' is now colloquial.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – Old High German ''selb'' appears in glosses.^(Kluge 2011|841)^(Köbler AHD)

+ * End of the 12th century – ''selber'' begins to be used for all cases.^(DWB|16, 430)

+ * 13th century – Berthold of Regensburg uses the invariable ''selber''.^(Lexer 1872|2, 861)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Self, in person: myself, yourself, himself and so on, the same as [[selbst]]: ''Das habe ich selber gesehen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # By oneself, on one's own, without help: ''Den Kuchen hat sie selber gebacken''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(inflected, dated)'' The same.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[selbst]]

+ * [[derselbe]]

+ * [[selbständig]]

+ * [[en|self]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In the south the word is also pronounced with a voiceless /s/ at the start.^(Wiktionary) ''Selber'' is the colloquial form; written standard German prefers ''selbst''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}