Erobreren

Eroberen is a Dutch verb that means to gain control of a place, territory, or object, typically through force or persistent effort. The standard infinitive is eroberen; the form erobreren is generally considered a misspelling or a nonstandard/dialectal variant. In contemporary usage, eroberen is less common in plain descriptive text, where veroveren (to conquer or to capture) is preferred, and winnen (to win) is used in figurative contexts.

Etymology and relatives: Eroberen derives from Middle Dutch eroberen and is cognate with the German erobern and the English verb conquer. The word belongs to the Germanic family, sharing roots with related verbs in nearby languages.

Usage and nuance: Historically, eroberen appears in military and political narratives to describe forcible seizure of territory or sovereignty. In modern writing, its use is more restricted and often carries strong connotations of combat or imperial action. For nonmilitary contexts, veroveren is the common choice, as in veroveren van marktaandeel (capturing market share) or veroveren van harten and support. In figurative language, eroberen can still convey the idea of gaining influence, trust, or dominance, though this sense is less frequent than with veroveren or winnen.

See also: verovering, conquest, eroberen in historical contexts, veroveren in contemporary usage.