Stekjes

Stekjes is the Dutch plural form of the informal noun steekje, which is slang for a cigarette. It is commonly used in everyday speech to refer to one or more cigarettes, especially when the speaker is asking for a smoking break or offering someone a puff. The word is also used figuratively to denote a brief or casual smoking session.

The term steekje originates from the verb steken, meaning “to poke” or “to light.” Historically, it referred to the small act of lighting a cigarette rather than the cigarette itself. Over time the noun form came to denote the tobacco product and its consumption. In modern Dutch, the spelling is fixed as steekje, and the plural straightforwardly becomes stekjes.

Stekjes appears frequently in Dutch literature, television, and radio as a casual, sometimes affectionate descriptor of smoking culture. In the 20th century, it was common in novels that depicted the everyday life of workers and youth, reflecting the widespread prevalence of cigarette smoking. The term has persisted even as public smoking bans and health campaigns have reduced smoking rates, surviving as an informal way for people to refer to cigarettes in conversation.

In related usage, Dutch speakers sometimes combine steekje with other slang such as “cig” or “joint” to contrast types of tobacco or marijuana products. While the term is widely understood, it is considered informal, so it is usually avoided in formal writing or in contexts where medical or legal precision is required. In such contexts, the standard words “cigarette” or “sigaret” in Dutch are preferred.

Overall, stekjes remains a small but enduring element of the Dutch linguistic landscape, illustrating how everyday habits can give rise to lasting slang that captures cultural norms and habits.