Sonstige

Sonstige is a German word that functions as an adjective and, in some contexts, as a noun. It means "other," "additional," or "rest of," and is used to refer to items, information, or groups not included in what has already been mentioned. It is common in lists, forms, and reports to indicate alternative or remaining elements.

Etymology and related forms: The term derives from the German stem seinst/sonst-" otherwise; else" and is combined with the typical German adjective formation. It is closely related to other terms such as andere and übrige, but it specifically conveys the sense of something additional or the remainder in relation to a specified set.

Usage and examples: As an attributive adjective, sonstige takes the normal German endings according to gender, number, and case, and is typically used with a definite article or a demonstrative. Examples include: der sonstige Mann (the other man), die sonstige Frau (the other woman), das sonstige Kind (the other child), die sonstigen Kosten (the other costs). Phrases like "sonstige Angaben" or "sonstige Hinweise" are common in forms and documents to indicate information beyond what is already listed. In plural usage, one would say "die sonstigen," referring to the other items in a group.

Noun use: In some contexts, Sonstige can be capitalized and used as a noun meaning "the others" or "the rest." For example, in reports or checklists one might encounter "Zu den Sonstigen gehören..." to introduce the remaining items or categories.

See also: other, übrige, zusätzliche, restliche. The term is widely used in administrative, academic, and everyday German to distinguish between specified items and what lies elsewhere.