Literaire

Literaire is an adjective used in several languages, notably Dutch, to denote a relation to literature. In Dutch, literaire refers to works, criticism, or activities that are literary in nature, typically implying artistic merit and a focus on language, form, and ideas, as opposed to non-fiction, journalism, or mass entertainment. The English equivalent is literary, and closely related terms appear in other languages such as French (littéraire) and German (literarisch). Etymology traces back to Latin littera meaning "letter" and to the Romance term littérature through French.

In practice, literaire is used to describe fiction, poetry, drama, and literary criticism or theory. It is common in academic discourse—literaire studie, literaire kritiek, or literaire analyse in Dutch—where scholars investigate authorial technique, narrative structure, symbolism, and intertextuality. The term often carries a prestige nuance, signaling alignment with artful writing and interpretive approaches rather than utilitarian or commercial content.

Differences across languages reflect cultural distinctions about what counts as literature. In Dutch, the distinction between literaire and populaire is a recurring theme in media criticism and education, shaping curricula and publishing markets. Beyond linguistic boundaries, the concept of literaire literature appears in global discussions of canon, literary movements, and criticism, underscoring how language and form contribute to perceived artistic value. See also: Literary, Littérature, Literary theory.