Benuteren

Benuteren is a Dutch term that is not widely recognized as a standard entry in contemporary dictionaries. In standard Dutch, the common infinitive form is benutt en? No, the usual form is benutten, meaning to utilize, to make use of, or to take advantage of. The spelling benuteren is heard occasionally, but it is not considered the normative form in modern usage. When encountered, benuteren is typically viewed as a nonstandard variant, a regional dialect form, or a misspelling of benutt en.

Etymology and meaning: both benutten and benuteren derive from the noun nut (use) with the verb-forming patterns typical of Dutch verbs. In practice, benutten is the form used to express the act of using something or seizing an opportunity. Benuteren, when it appears, is generally understood to carry the same semantic field but is treated as less acceptable in formal writing.

Usage: in contemporary Dutch, preferred constructions include phrases such as kans benutten (to seize the opportunity) or de gelegenheid benutten (to take advantage of the opportunity). For example: We hebben de kans benut. Zij benutten hun netwerk om aan nieuw werk te komen. If benuteren appears, readers should consider it a nonstandard or regional variant rather than the standard form.

See also: benutten, nut, gebruik maken van.

Note: this article covers a term with limited acceptance in standard Dutch; consult authoritative dictionaries for region-specific or historical usage.