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Theodor Siebs

1862 – 1941

German linguist

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About Theodor Siebs

Lived 1862 – 1941 (aged 78). Theodor Siebs was a German linguist, writer, university teacher and germanist.

Theodor Siebs (; 26 August 1862 – 28 May 1941) was a German linguist most remembered today as the author of Deutsche Bühnenaussprache ('German stage pronunciation'), published in 1898. The work was largely responsible for setting the standard pronunciation of the modern German language and is referred to popularly by German speakers as der Siebs ('the Siebs').

Siebs was born in the Free City of Bremen on 26 August 1862. He studied linguistics and classical philology in Tübingen and later was a professor both at the University of Greifswald and the University of Breslau. His writings on language and languages are varied, but there is an emphasis on the history and state of Frisian languages. His Deutsche Bühnenaussprache is still relevant, though for practical purposes it has largely been supplanted by other works (see references) that employ the IPA notation (International Phonetic Alphabet), which Siebs' work did not, and which adapted to the actual pronunciation of speakers attempting a standard pronunciation.

Siebs died on 28 May 1941 in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland).

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
University of Tübingen, University of Breslau, University of Greifswald
Employers
University of Wrocław, University of Greifswald

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Theodor Siebs's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Theodor Siebs?

German linguist (1862–1941)

When was Theodor Siebs born?

Theodor Siebs was born on 26 August 1862 in Bremen.

When did Theodor Siebs die?

Theodor Siebs died on 28 May 1941 in Wrocław.

What was Theodor Siebs's occupation?

Theodor Siebs was a linguist, writer, university teacher and germanist.

What nationality was Theodor Siebs?

Theodor Siebs was German.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Theodor Siebs

· Wikidata: Q28117

· DBpedia: Theodor Siebs

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Theodor Siebs. https://biography.guide/theodor-siebs/

MLA: "Theodor Siebs." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/theodor-siebs/.

Chicago: "Theodor Siebs." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/theodor-siebs/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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