Gezamenlijke

Gezamenlijke is a Dutch adjective meaning joint, shared, or common, used to describe activities, responsibilities, or properties that involve two or more parties acting together. It is typically used as an attributive modifier before a noun, for example: gezamenlijke inspanning (joint effort), gezamenlijke verantwoordelijkheid (joint responsibility), gezamenlijke besluitvorming (joint decision‑making). The adverb form is gezamenlijk, meaning jointly or together (Zij werken gezamenlijk aan het project).

Gezamenlijke is closely related to gemeenschappelijk, but the two are not always interchangeable. Gezamenlijk emphasizes the act of doing something together, often in the context of cooperation or cooperation among participants. Gemeenschappelijk tends to highlight a shared attribute, interest, or ownership. In practice, both words appear in legal, business, and governance language, with nuance guiding the choice.

Common collocations include gezamenlijke ondernemingen (joint ventures), gezamenlijke eigendom (joint ownership), and gezamenlijke verklaring (joint statement). It is widely used in formal writing and reporting across Dutch-speaking regions, including institutions, companies, and public administration. The term can also appear in broader contexts to convey collective action or mutual responsibility.

Etymology and related terms: gezamenlijk derives from samen (together) plus the suffix -lijk, with the prefix ge- a historical productive element in Dutch. A related noun is gezamenlijkheid, meaning the state or quality of being joint or shared. Understanding the distinction between gezamenlijk (adjective) and gezamenlijkheid (noun) helps in choosing precise Dutch in formal and legal texts.