selten

rare

adjective adverb ZEL-ten Common

Also means

rarely

Usage Note

selten works as both adjective ('rare') and adverb ('rarely, seldom'), and is the opposite of häufig ('frequent'). Colloquially nicht selten ('not seldom') is a litotes meaning 'quite often'.

Examples

"Solche Vögel sind sehr selten."

Natural Translation

Such birds are very rare.

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