Informele

Informele is the attributive form of the Dutch adjective informeel, meaning not formal, casual, or unofficial. It is used to describe situations, language, dress, or behavior that lack formalities. The word is cognate with the English informal and shares the general sense of relaxed rules or procedures.

In Dutch grammar, adjectives are inflected for definiteness and number. After a definite article or in the plural, the attributive form takes -e, producing informele. In predicative position (after a linking verb), the form remains informeel (for example: De sfeer is informeel). Common usages include informele sfeer (informal atmosphere), informele afspraken (informal agreements), and informele kleding (informal clothing).

Informele is often contrasted with formeel (formal). Informal contexts emphasize ease of contact, flexibility, and spontaneity, while formal contexts stress structure, protocol, and official procedures. The concept appears across domains, including language, social relations, workplace culture, and social events.

The term also figures in sociolinguistics and cultural studies as part of registers or styles. In economics and policy talk, informele landbouw or informele economie refers to activities outside formal regulation or taxation. As a broad concept, informele signals a relaxed, non-protocol-driven approach, without implying illegality or lax ethics.

Overall, informele describes a broad spectrum of casual or unofficial characteristics in language, behavior, and organization, serving as a counterpart to formal constructs in Dutch discourse.