The German long s (s) is an old form of the letter s that was used in German and other European languages until the early 19th century. It looks similar to the letter f, but without the cross-stroke. The long s was used at the beginning and in the middle of words, while the modern s was only used at the end of words.
When was the German long s used?
The German long s originated from medieval scribal tradition and was used in printed works in Germany from the 14th to the 18th century. Its use began to decline in the mid-18th century and had disappeared almost completely by the early 19th century. However, there were some instances of its use in Germany up until the 20th century.
Early history
The long s has its origins in medieval handwriting, where the letter s was written in various long forms when it occurred in the middle or at the beginning of a word. This helped distinguish it from the letter f. When German printing began in the 14th century, printers adopted the long s in their movable type fonts.
Use in the 15th to 18th centuries
During the 15th to 18th centuries, the German long s was used in printed materials throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other European countries. It was seen in all types of works including books, newspapers, journals, and manuscripts. Well-known writers who used the long s include Martin Luther, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Georg Philipp Telemann.
Decline in the late 18th and 19th centuries
By the mid-18th century, use of the long s began to decline in handwriting and printing. Inconsistencies in its usage led to confusion with the letter f. The modern s gradually replaced the long s, especially in Switzerland and Germany. By the early 19th century, the long s had completely disappeared from printed works.
How was the German long s used in writing?
The German long s had specific rules for its usage in printed and handwritten works:
- At the beginning of a word – The long s was always used e.g. in words like see, sagen, sondern
- In the middle of a word – Between vowels, the long s was used e.g. dasein, menschlich, arschloch
- Never at the end of a word – The modern s was always used instead e.g. haus, blaus, mas
- Never before the letter b – This avoided confusion with fb e.g. schloss, krebs
There were some exceptions to these rules, but they were generally consistent in printed works. In handwriting, usage was less systematic.
What are some examples of German words using the long s?
Here are some common German words that were written with the long s under the old orthographic rules:
Nouns
- See (sea)
- Schloß (castle)
- Straße (street)
- Schule (school)
- Sonne (sun)
Verbs
- Sagen (to say)
- Sein (to be)
- Silzen (to sit)
- Stehen (to stand)
- Schlafen (to sleep)
Adjectives
- Groß (big)
- Bös (evil)
- Falsch (wrong)
- Nächs (next)
- Süß (sweet)
| German word | English translation |
|---|---|
| Seele | Soul |
| Sprache | Language |
| Student | Student |
| Straße | Street |
| Sprechen | To speak |
Why did German stop using the long s?
There were several reasons for the gradual decline of the German long s in the 18th and 19th centuries:
Ambiguity with f
The long s sometimes caused confusion with f, when books were printed with worn out typefaces. This led to declining usage out of practicality.
Inconsistencies in handwriting
There was no standard way of writing the long s in handwriting. Individual styles led to ambiguity in interpreting written text.
Adoption of Antiqua typefaces
The shift from blackletter fonts like Fraktur to the cleaner Antiqua fonts made the long s seem archaic. Antiqua typefaces used the modern s.
Influence of Switzerland and Germany
Switzerland and Germany were at the forefront of typography trends. The waning use of the long s in these countries influenced typographers elsewhere.
19th century spelling reforms
Spelling reforms sought to standardize German orthography, which led to the official abolition of the long s in the early 19th century.
What are some key facts about the German long s?
Originated from medieval scribal writing
The long s has its roots in the way scribes wrote the letter s in the medieval period.
Used from 14th to 18th centuries in printed works
After the invention of the printing press, the long s appeared in most printed materials in Germany and beyond.
Distinguished from f but caused confusion
The long s was intended to distinguish s from f. But in some cases, it was unclear if s or f was intended.
Declined after 1750 and disappeared by early 1800s
Its use began to decline in the mid-18th century and became obsolete by the early 19th century.
Abolished from German orthography in the 19th century
Spelling reforms culminated in the replacement of the long s with the modern s.
What is the legacy of the German long s today?
Though it has disappeared from the German language, the long s has left a legacy in various ways:
Seen in old documents and texts
Historic German texts from before the 19th century feature the long s. It provides insight into the orthography of earlier eras.
Used stylistically in fonts and typography
Some modern blackletter fonts like Fraktur use the long s for decorative purposes to evoke an archaic style.
Provides challenges in interpreting old texts
The long s adds complexity when deciphering old German documents and can lead to misreading words.
Represents an obsolete form of the letter s
Linguistics experts see it as an interesting example of how written languages evolve over time.
Conclusion
The German long s has a fascinating history spanning over five centuries of printed works in Germanic languages. Its origins, rise, decline, and eventual abolition reflect how written orthography standards change over time. While no longer used in modern German, the long s leaves behind a legacy that offers insights into the evolution of the German language and medieval calligraphy traditions.