Nulde

Nulde is a Dutch adjective and ordinal used to indicate the zeroth position or order in a sequence, baseline state, or initial condition. It functions as the Dutch equivalent of the English term “zeroth.” The form is built from the number nul (zero) with the ordinal suffix -de, following standard Dutch spelling rules for ordinals associated with zero or starting points.

In technical and academic language, nulde appears in contexts such as mathematics, physics, and computer science to denote the initial or baseline case before the first element or step. Examples include terms like nulde orde (zeroth order) or nulde iteratie (zeroth iteration). In everyday Dutch, the word can also mark a starting point or reference level, though in many practical scenarios other formulations such as “beginnend,” “start-,” or “basal-” may be preferred.

The semantic purpose of nulde is to distinguish a baseline from higher-order terms that follow (eerste, tweede, derde, etc.). Its usage can vary by discipline and region, and some speakers may opt for alternative expressions depending on context. The term remains a conventional linguistic tool to describe an initial or baseline state in formal descriptions, models, and procedures.

Etymology and spelling reflect standard Dutch numerals, with nulde aligning with the pattern used for ordinals derived from numbers. As with many technical terms, its precise connotations are defined by the discipline and the surrounding terminology.