Toegeeflijke

Toegeeflijke is a Dutch adjective used to describe behavior, attitudes, or policies that are lenient, accommodating, or permissive, often by yielding to others’ wishes or requests. The term conveys a sense of concession and a willingness to tolerate or indulge others, rather than strict or rigid enforcement.

Etymology and form: The word derives from toegeven, meaning to concede or yield, with the adjectival suffix -lijk. The base adjective is toegeeflijk; the feminine singular form before a noun is commonly realized as toegeeflijke (for example, een toegeeflijke houding). In modern usage the form tends to appear in more literary or formal contexts, while everyday language may prefer simpler synonyms such as tolerant or meegaand.

Usage: Toegeeflijke is relatively uncommon in casual conversation and is often found in descriptive prose, historical writing, or discussions about social norms and governance where concession or leniency is a notable feature. It can describe people, institutions, or policies that favor accommodation over strictness.

Examples:

- De nieuw ingevoerde regelgeving werd geprezen om zijn toegeeflijke aanpak ten opzichte van kleine ondernemers.

- Een toegeeflijke houding van de leraar hielp de klas zich vrijer uit te drukken.

Related terms include toegeeflijkheid (the noun form meaning leniency or concession). In English, the closest equivalents are permissive, lenient, or accommodative. See also terms related to concession and tolerance in Dutch discourse.