Geraakte

Geraakte is a Dutch term formed as the past participle of the verb raken. In use, it functions as an adjective meaning someone or something that has been touched, hit, or affected by an event. The word is common in both journalistic reporting and everyday language to describe people, places, or things that have suffered impact from an incident such as a disaster, accident, or conflict. Its nuance is broader than purely “injured,” encompassing emotional, material, and physical effects.

Etymology and form: Geraakte derives from raken, meaning to touch, strike, or come into contact. When used as a modifier before a noun, it often appears as de geraakte mensen (the affected people) or de geraakte bewoners (the affected residents). As a past participle, it agrees with the noun and is related to the more frequently used geraakt (the general past participle, meaning “touched” or “affected” in a predicate sense).

Usage notes: In reporting, geraakte is frequently preferred to emphasize consequence rather than injury alone. It contrasts with gewond (injured) and getroffen (hit or affected in a more concrete sense). For example, “de geraakte slachtoffers” refers to those affected by an event, not necessarily only those who were physically harmed. In informal speech, speakers might opt for phrase constructions such as “de mensen die geraakt zijn.”

Related terms: Raken, geraakt, geraakte; getroffen; gewond. Geraakte shares semantic ground with these words but specifically highlights the impact or effect of an event on people or things.

See also: Dutch language resources on participles and adjectival use; disaster and emergency reporting terminology in Dutch.