Aangrenzende

Aangrenzende is a Dutch adjective meaning neighboring, adjacent, or adjoining. It describes objects or areas that share a boundary or lie directly next to each other. The term is widely used in geography, architecture, urban planning, mathematics, and everyday language.

Etymology and form: Aangrenzende is derived from the verb aangrenzen, meaning to border or to adjoin. It is the attributive form used before a noun and agrees in number and definiteness with that noun (for example, de aangrenzende kamer, het aangrenzende gebied, een aangrenzende kamer).

Usage and examples: In geography or urban planning you might speak of aangrenzende landen or aangrenzende gemeenten to indicate countries or municipalities that share a border. In architecture or interior design, aangrenzende kamers describe rooms that share a wall. In mathematics or computer science, the phrase can describe aangrenzende punten, zijden, of cellen in a grid or graph, meaning points, sides, or cells that are directly next to one another.

Nuance and distinguishers: Aangrenzende contrasts with gewoon naast, which also indicates proximity but not necessarily sharing a boundary. Aangrenzende implies a direct boundary contact or adjacency. It is common in formal and technical Dutch, but also appears in everyday speech when precision about proximity is desired.

See also: naburig (neighboring), aangrenzend (variant form), grenzen (to border), grensgebied (border area).