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Selbständig and selbstständig seem to share the same meaning. What are the differences in tone and usage?

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Thanks for the answers explaining the origin of the two words! As of yet, no-one has written about the differences in atmosphere. – Tim N May 24 '11 at 20:24
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There is no difference. It is the same word. Therefore, we cannot write about the difference. (Unless you want to start a question when it is a bad idea to use new/old orthography.) – Phira May 24 '11 at 20:30
@thei: I see, so the answer would be the same as any question regarding differences with new/old orthography? Then it belongs in another question. – Tim N May 24 '11 at 20:35

6 Answers

up vote 12 down vote accepted

"Selbständig" is the traditional orthography of the word (double "st" was collapsed). It also resembles the pronunciation more closely, since saying a double "st" is hard, even for a German.

"Selbstständig" is the more modern variant that is allowed since the orthography reform. It is also the "more logical" variant, since it really is a composite adjective consisting of selbst and ständig.

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You have an st /zt/ in the first syllable, while in the second you have an st which is spoken like scht. IMHO, it is easy to speak it like selbstständig, although the difference vanishes when spoken quickly. – Hellenologophilist May 24 '11 at 20:28
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When I speak it, it becomes "selb-schtändig" - without a sharp st at all. Pronunciation leans towards the way of least resistance. ;) – Tomalak May 24 '11 at 20:30
up vote 12 down vote

Simple:

  • selbständig: spelling according to the old orthography ("Alte Rechtschreibung")
  • selbstständig: spelling according to the new orthography ("Neue deutsche Rechtschreibung")

These are just two ways to spell the same word. There is no difference in tone or usage.

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up vote 4 down vote

I think selbständig was the correct form until the spelling reform. Since then you can use both.

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up vote 2 down vote

There's no difference in the usage of those words. In fact, they are different spellings of the same word.

This seems to be a case of simplification of a word, that's combined of two other words (selbst and ständig). The combination is a bit difficult to write and pronounce. So the colloquial just "merges" both st and this has also been transfered to the written language – both are valid spellings.

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up vote 7 down vote

There's no difference. Both are one and the same word, and there's also no difference in tonation. But "selbstständig" is the preffered way to use. As you can see in the "Duden", "selbständig" is just an alternative form for the word.

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Just to clarify, I wasn't referring to the pronunciation, but to the connotations that the word carries. – Tim N May 24 '11 at 20:21
up vote 0 down vote

"Selbständig" seems to be used by people who forgot another "st" in "selbstständig". As long as the meaning of "selbstständig" is intended, I honestly can't think of another explanation.
(Yes, I'm from Germany.)

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Really? It is listed as a main words in several dictionaries. – Tim N May 24 '11 at 20:19
Until the orthography reform, one "st" was indeed the correct way to spell it. – balpha♦ May 24 '11 at 20:20
@Tim that may be due to reduction of redundancies, similiar to compund words which would require three consequent identical consonants. This one is a compound of "selbst" and "ständig", hence the double "st". – Jemus42 May 24 '11 at 20:21

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