Diminutief

Diminutief is a grammatical category in Dutch that marks a word as smaller, younger, or more affectionate than the base form. It is typically expressed by adding a diminutive suffix to the stem, most commonly -je, -tje, -etje, -pje or -kje. The choice of suffix depends on phonology and the final sounds of the stem, and in some cases the spelling or pronunciation is adjusted to preserve ease of pronunciation.

Common examples include huis -> huisje (house), boek -> boekje (book), kat -> katje (cat), boom -> boompje (tree), kind -> kindje (child). Some stems require additional changes, such as vowel length or consonant doubling, to maintain a natural sound. The resulting form can be used as a noun with its own meaning, or as a modifier referring to a smaller or more endearing version of the original.

Semantically, diminutives convey small size, familiarity, affection, or playfulness. They are prevalent in informal speech, family contexts, and child-directed language, and they can also express a slight belittlement or diminishment in certain contexts. In written Dutch, diminutives appear most naturally in informal or literary registers and are less common in formal contexts.

In Dutch, diminutives are part of a broader set of derivative and inflectional suffixes and interact with pronunciation rules, stress patterns, and sometimes regional usage. The concept is parallel in other Germanic languages, though the specific suffixes and phonological adjustments differ. The term diminutief is often discussed together with verkleinwoorden, the general category of diminutive forms in Dutch grammar.