Leenwoordige

Leenwoordige is a term used in linguistic discussions to describe a word that originates as a loanword from another language and is treated in Dutch as a word with that foreign origin. The term emphasizes the word’s loanword status and its ongoing integration into the Dutch lexicon.

Etymology and usage: Leenwoordige is formed from leenwoord (Dutch for loanword) combined with the adjectival suffix -ige, yielding a word that means “having the property of being a loanword.” It appears mainly in academic or descriptive writing about language contact, borrowings, and lexical adaptation, rather than as a standard dictionary entry.

Definition and features: A leenwoordige item typically enters Dutch through contact with another language, undergoes phonological adaptation to Dutch norms, and may acquire Dutch inflectional behavior or be fully integrated as a native-like term. The descriptor helps linguists distinguish borrowed terms that are still perceived primarily as foreign from those that have become deeply naturalized in everyday use. It can also be contrasted with calques or direct translations, which are different mechanisms of borrowing.

Examples and notes: Because leenwoordige is not a common entry in general dictionaries, its use is mostly confined to scholarly contexts. In practice, widely used borrowings such as software, internet, or taxi can be discussed as leenwoordige items when describing their status as non-native origins that function within Dutch syntax and morphology. The term should be used with clarity about its scope, as nomenclature around borrowings varies across sources.

See also: leenwoord, calque, language contact, lexical borrowing.