Pogingen

Pogingen is the plural form of the Dutch noun poging, meaning an act of trying or an attempt to achieve something. A poging can be a conscious effort to realize a goal, whether or not it succeeds. The term is used across everyday language as well as in more formal contexts.

The noun is often paired with verbs such as doen, wagen, or bezig; common constructions include pogingen tot (attempts to) and pogingen om contact te krijgen. In scientific and professional discourse, pogingen refers to experimental or iterative tries, for example pogingen om het proces te optimaliseren.

In the legal domain, poging is a technical term for an attempted crime: poging tot diefstal, poging tot moord, and similar phrases. Such pogingen are typically distinguished from a completed offense and, depending on the jurisdiction, may be punishable under the law.

Synonyms include proef and probeersel, with inspanning used in some contexts. Each term carries distinct nuance: proef and probeersel emphasize the testing aspect, while poging emphasizes the act of attempting. The related verb is proberen, meaning to attempt, with poging as its corresponding noun form.

Etymology: The word derives from Dutch roots related to the verb pogen, meaning to strive or attempt, with the plural form pogingen used for multiple attempts.