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selbständig

independent

adjective ZELP-shten-dikh Less Common

Also means

self-employed

Usage Note

selbständig means independent in the sense of standing on your own, and is the standard word for being self-employed: sich selbständig machen means to start your own business. It is also spelled selbstständig, the form now preferred after the spelling reform. Don't confuse it with unabhängig, which is independence from outside control.

Examples

"Sie arbeitet selbständig von zu Hause."

Natural Translation

She works independently from home.

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