Gevoelige

Gevoelige is a Dutch adjective meaning sensitive or delicate, used to describe people, body parts, emotions, or situations that are easily affected, require care, or demand tact. It can refer to physical receptiveness (such as skin) or to emotional or social sensitivity (for example reactions to criticism or delicate topics).

In Dutch, gevoelige is the attributive form of the adjective. When placed before a noun, it takes an -e ending: een gevoelige huid, gevoelde onderwerpen, gevoelige mensen. The predicative form, used after a linking verb, is gevoelig: De huid is gevoelig; Ze is gevoelig voor kritiek. Plural forms follow the general rule, as in gevoelige harten, gevoelige onderwerpen.

Common collocations include gevoelige huid (sensitive skin), gevoelig onderwerp (delicate/sensitive topic), gevoelige informatie (sensitive information), and gevoelig voor (sensitive to), as in zachtjes reageren of gevoelig zijn voor kritiek. The term appears in both everyday language and more formal or medical contexts to indicate vulnerability, susceptibility, or the need for careful handling.

Etymology and related terms: gevoelige derives from gevoelig, which in turn relates to gevoel, the word for feeling. The suffix -ig forms adjectives from nouns, while the prefix ge- is a traditional Dutch formation element. A related noun is gevoeligheid, meaning sensitivity or susceptibility.

See also: gevoel (feeling), gevoeligheid (sensitivity), gevoelig zijn (to be sensitive), gevoeligheid voor (sensitivity to).