selbsttragende

Selbsttragende is an adjective in German meaning self-bearing or self-supporting. It describes objects, structures or systems that transfer loads to their own supports rather than relying on an external frame. The term is used both in a technical sense (architectural and engineering contexts) and in a more general, figurative sense.

In construction and architecture, selbsttragende refers to elements or structures that carry their loads without relying on a separate load-bearing frame. Typical examples are selbsttragendes Mauerwerk, which transfers roof and floor loads through masonry walls, or self-supporting arches. The concept is often contrasted with framed or skeleton constructions (Rahmen- oder Skelettbau), where the load path primarily follows a framework rather than the walls themselves. The term can apply to walls, roofs, arches or entire buildings, depending on how loads are transmitted to the foundation.

Beyond structural use, selbsttragend can also describe systems or institutions that sustain themselves financially or operationally without external subsidies. For instance, eine selbsttragende Organisation or eine Schule, die sich selbst trägt, implies independence from ongoing external funding.

Etymologically, the word combines selbst (self) with tragen (to bear or carry). It is common in compound nouns and can serve attributively (ein selbsttragendes Bauwerk) or predicatively (das Bauwerk ist selbsttragend). The exact meaning depends on context, but the core idea remains: the subject supports its own weight or needs no external support to function.