selv

Selv is a word used in Danish and Norwegian to mean self, and it is a cognate of the Swedish själv and the English self. In these languages, selv functions primarily as a pronoun meaning the person’s own being, and it also appears as an intensifying or connective particle in various constructions.

In everyday speech, selv occurs in reflexive phrases and in combinations with pronouns. For example, in Norwegian you can find meg selv (myself) and seg selv (himself/herself), and in Danish mig selv (myself) and sig selv (himself/herself). It also forms part of phrases such as selv om, meaning “even though,” where selv acts as a linking particle rather than a standalone pronoun. Additionally, selv participates in the creation of compound adjectives and nouns that convey self-related concepts, such as selvstendig (independent).

Etymologically, selv derives from Old Norse sjálfr and is rooted in Proto-Germanic, with close relatives across the Germanic languages. Its closest cognates include the Swedish själv and the English self, reflecting a common meaning across the family. The Danish and Norwegian spellings preserve an older phonetic form that has shifted in neighboring languages over time.

Selv is not a proper noun in ordinary use; it is typically capitalized only at the start of a sentence. In cross-language references, it is useful to compare selv with the English self and with the Swedish själv to understand how the concept of “self” is expressed across Scandinavian languages.