Toeboren

Toeboren is a Dutch verb meaning to be born into a particular family, class, or circumstance. It emphasizes social origin by birth rather than personal effort and is commonly used in genealogical, sociological, or literary contexts to describe inherited status or conditions.

Etymology: The word is a compound formed with the prefix toe- meaning into or toward and the root related to birth. The sense “to be born into [a family or situation]” developed over time, and toeboren is distinct from the neutral statement of being born (geboren). In contemporary Dutch it tends to appear in more formal or narrative registers when discussing origins tied to birth.

Usage: Toeboren is typically used to describe one’s social position at birth, such as family background, class, or circumstance, rather than personal achievement. It can emphasize structural or hereditary factors that influence opportunities. Examples include: “Zij werd toeboren in een familie van artsen” and “Hij werd toeboren in armoede.” The term is most common in written Dutch and in discussions of social mobility, class, and lineage.

See also: geboren, sociale afkomst, genealogie.