Goede

Goede is the inflected form of the Dutch adjective goed, meaning “good.” It is used before a noun in attributive position when the noun is preceded by a definite determiner (de, het) or by a possessive determiner (mijn, jouw, zijn, haar). Examples include de goede buur (the good neighbor), het goede doel (the good cause), mijn goede vriend (my good friend). In these contexts, Dutch adjectives take the -e ending: goede.

In contrast, when the noun is indefinite, the attributive form uses goed without the -e, as in een goed idee (a good idea) or een goed boek (a good book). In predicative position, where the adjective describes the subject after a linking verb, the adjective typically remains in its base form: Het boek is goed (The book is good).

Fixed phrases such as Goede morgen or Goede avond are common greetings where the adjective forms part of a standard expression meaning “good morning” or “good evening.” These uses follow the general pattern of attributive adjectives with a definite sense, though they function as set phrases rather than freely inflected forms.

Etymology traces goed to Proto-Germanic *gōdaz, with cognates in languages such as German gut and English good. The form goede arises from regular Dutch adjective inflection rules that add -e in attributive position after definite determiners or possessives. Goede can also appear as a surname in Dutch-speaking contexts, though it is primarily recognized as the inflected form of goed rather than a separate lexical item.