Artikels

Artikels is a term that appears in several Germanic language contexts and may refer to different but related concepts depending on usage. In everyday language, artikels commonly denote articles or items within a text, catalog, or collection. As a linguistic unit, the word is tied to the root artikel, which in Dutch and related languages can mean both a written article and an item in a list or catalog.

In standard Dutch, the usual plural of artikel is artikelen. Artikels can be encountered in older texts, regional varieties, or specific formal styles, but artikelen is the dominant plural form in contemporary usage. In practice, the distinction matters most in written work and bibliographic or cataloging conventions, where precise plural forms reflect standard orthography.

In journalism and publishing, artikels refer to individual written pieces such as news reports, essays, or feature articles. In legal and governmental contexts, the term artikel is commonly used to denote a specific provision or clause within a statute, constitution, treaty, or other formal document; the plural artikels may appear when multiple provisions are cited, though many jurisdictions prefer the term artikelen or provisions specific to their language.

Artikels can also appear as a proper noun in branding, place names, or fictional contexts, though such uses are less common than the general sense of the word. The meaning of Artikels thus depends on linguistic and situational context, ranging from ordinary items and literary articles to legal provisions and formal references. See also Artikel.