Word Frequency (Worthäufigkeit) #1500
Word (Wort)

selten

Translation (Übersetzung) rarely, seldom
Pronunciation (Aussprache) [ˈzɛltən]
A2
Adverb/Adjective
Beginner
Neutral
Tags (Tags)
adverb adjective frequency A2 beginner common_word
"Selten" is a common German word used to describe infrequency. As an adverb, it modifies verbs (e.g., "Ich gehe selten ins Kino"). As an adjective, it describes nouns (e.g., "ein seltener Vogel"). It is often used in comparative and superlative forms: "seltener" (less frequent) and "am seltensten" (least frequent).

selten - German Adverb/Adjective - selten Meaning - selten Translation - selten Adverb/Adjective Examples

selten is a German Adverb/Adjective

Learn selten meaning, translation, pronunciation, and usage examples. selten is classified as an Adverb/Adjective in German grammar.

selten Examples (Beispiele) in English

selten examples with English translations. See how to use selten in sentences. selten example sentences in English below.

Ich besuche selten Museen.
I rarely visit museums.
Describing frequency of an activity.
Sie isst selten Fleisch.
She seldom eats meat.
Discussing dietary habits.
Es regnet hier selten im Sommer.
It rarely rains here in summer.
Talking about weather patterns.
Er ruft selten an.
He rarely calls.
Describing communication frequency.
Wir gehen selten zusammen aus.
We seldom go out together.
Discussing social activities.
Das passiert selten.
That happens rarely.
General statement about infrequency.
Sie ist selten pünktlich.
She is rarely on time.
Describing punctuality.
Ich trinke selten Kaffee.
I seldom drink coffee.
Talking about beverage preferences.
Er liest selten Bücher.
He rarely reads books.
Discussing reading habits.
Sie schläft selten lange.
She seldom sleeps late.
Describing sleep patterns.

selten Examples (Beispiele) in English

selten examples with English translations. See how to use selten in sentences. selten example sentences in English below.

Das ist ein seltener Vogel.
That is a rare bird.
Describing an uncommon animal.
Sie sammelt seltene Münzen.
She collects rare coins.
Talking about a hobby.
Er hat eine seltene Krankheit.
He has a rare disease.
Medical context.
Das Buch ist eine seltene Ausgabe.
The book is a rare edition.
Discussing collectibles.
Es war ein seltener Anblick.
It was a rare sight.
Describing an unusual view.
Sie besitzt seltene Kunstwerke.
She owns rare artworks.
Talking about art collection.
Das ist ein seltener Fall.
That is a rare case.
Legal or general exception.
Er fand eine seltene Pflanze.
He found a rare plant.
Botanical context.
Sie hat seltene Fähigkeiten.
She has rare abilities.
Describing unique skills.
Das war eine seltene Gelegenheit.
That was a rare opportunity.
Discussing chances or events.

selten — common mistakes (English)

Learner-focused corrections for selten — typical errors vs. correct German, with short explanations.

  • Ich selten gehe ins Kino.
    Ich gehe selten ins Kino.
    As an adverb, "selten" typically follows the verb in main clauses, not before it.
  • Das ist ein seltenes Buch, ich lese es oft.
    Das ist ein seltenes Buch, ich lese es selten.
    Contradiction in meaning; if something is rare, it's unlikely to be used often.
  • Er kommt selten zu spät.
    Er kommt selten zu spät. (or "Er kommt kaum zu spät.")
    While acceptable, "kaum" might be more idiomatic for "hardly ever" in this context, but "selten" is not incorrect.
  • Sie ist selten als Lehrerin.
    Sie ist selten als Lehrerin tätig.
    "Selten" as an adverb needs a verb to modify; the sentence should include an action verb like "tätig sein."
  • Das Wetter ist selten gut heute.
    Das Wetter ist heute selten gut.
    Word order: time expressions like "heute" often come before adverbs like "selten" in sentences.

selten Word Family - selten Related Words - selten Family Members

selten Word Family (Wortfamilie)

selten word family includes related words, derivatives, and word forms. Learn selten family members with meanings, translations, and usage. Explore selten related words and expand your German vocabulary.

Comparative Form (Komparativ)
seltener
Meaning: less frequent, rarer
Tense: N/A
Example: Er kommt seltener als sie.
Adverb/adjective
Superlative Form (Superlativ)
am seltensten
Meaning: least frequent, rarest
Tense: N/A
Example: Das ist am seltensten vorkommende Element.
Adverb/adjective
Noun Form (Substantivierung)
die Seltenheit
Meaning: rarity
Tense: N/A
Example: Die Seltenheit des Fundes erstaunte alle.
Noun

selten Usage - selten Collocations - selten Idioms - selten Synonyms - selten Antonyms

selten Usage & Related Words (Verwendung & verwandte Wörter)

Learn how to use selten in context. Discover selten collocations (common word combinations), idioms, synonyms, and antonyms. Master selten usage patterns and expand your German vocabulary with related words.

selten Collocations (Kollokationen)

selten collocations are common word combinations that native speakers use. Learn selten word combinations and how to use selten with other words naturally.

selten vorkommen
to occur rarely
High frequency
selten gesehen
rarely seen
High frequency
selten besucht
rarely visited
Medium frequency
selten benutzt
rarely used
Medium frequency
selten erfüllt
rarely fulfilled
Low frequency
selten gehört
rarely heard
Medium frequency
selten gegessen
rarely eaten
Low frequency
selten gemacht
rarely done
Medium frequency
selten passiert
rarely happens
High frequency
selten möglich
rarely possible
Medium frequency

selten Idioms (Redewendungen)

selten idioms and expressions. Learn German idioms containing selten with meanings and explanations. Master selten expressions used in everyday German.

So selten wie ein weißer Rabe
As rare as a white raven
Used to describe something extremely rare or uncommon.
Selten, aber heftig
Rare, but intense
Describes something that doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's significant.
Selten gut
Rarely good
Used ironically to mean "exceptionally good" or "very good."
In seltenen Fällen
In rare cases
Used to describe situations that occur infrequently.
Seltene Erden
Rare earths
Refers to rare earth elements in chemistry, but can be used metaphorically for scarce resources.

selten Synonyms (Synonyme)

selten synonyms - words with similar meanings. Find alternative words for selten and expand your German vocabulary. Learn selten similar words and their usage.

selten
Meaning: rarely
High similarity
wenig
Meaning: little, few
Medium similarity
kaum
Meaning: hardly, scarcely
High similarity
gelegentlich
Meaning: occasionally
Medium similarity
ungewöhnlich
Meaning: unusually
Low similarity
rar
Meaning: rare
High similarity
ausnahmsweise
Meaning: exceptionally
Medium similarity
spärlich
Meaning: sparsely
Low similarity
vereinzelt
Meaning: isolated, sporadic
Medium similarity
unregelmäßig
Meaning: irregularly
Low similarity

selten Antonyms (Antonyme)

selten antonyms - opposite words. Learn words with opposite meanings to selten. Discover selten opposite words and expand your German vocabulary.

oft
Meaning: often
häufig
Meaning: frequently
regelmäßig
Meaning: regularly
immer
Meaning: always
ständig
Meaning: constantly
meistens
Meaning: mostly
gewöhnlich
Meaning: usually
alltäglich
Meaning: everyday
üblich
Meaning: common, usual
verbreitet
Meaning: widespread

selten Semantically Related Words - selten Contextually Related Words - selten Thematically Related Words

selten Semantically Related Words (Semantisch verwandte Wörter)

selten semantically related words - words that are conceptually or thematically related to selten. Explore selten related vocabulary and discover words in the same semantic field. Learn selten contextually related words to expand your German vocabulary.

oft häufig kaum gelegentlich nie immer manchmal regelmäßig ungewöhnlich rar

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