Begroetten

Begroetten is a Dutch verb meaning to greet someone, typically when meeting or re-establishing contact. The act can involve verbal salutation, nonverbal gestures such as a handshake or nod, and is used in both formal and informal settings, in person and through digital communication.

Grammatical overview: the infinitive is begroeten. In the present tense, the forms are ik begroet, jij begroet, hij begroet, wij begroeten, jullie begroeten, zij begroeten. The past simple is wij begroetten, jullie begroetten, zij begroetten, with singular forms such as ik begroette, jij begroette, hij begroette. The past participle is begroet, used in compound tenses (ik heb begroet, hij heeft begroet). The verb is transitive and commonly takes a direct object, for example: iemand begroeten.

Etymology and related terms: begroetten is formed with the prefix be- added to groeten (to greet). This mirrors a broader pattern in Dutch where be- creates transitive verbs. The core concept is closely related to groeten and to the noun begroeting (the act of greeting). In everyday language, begroeten is often contrasted with more general terms for saying hello or welcoming someone, such as hallo zeggen or welkom heten.

Usage notes: begroeten is versatile and appears in various contexts, including meeting new colleagues, greeting guests, or acknowledging acquaintances. It can be used reflexively as elkaar begroeten (to greet each other). In formal communication, begroeten tends to appear with polite forms and sometimes a handshake, while in casual settings, a simple hello may accompany the action. The related noun is een begroeting.