Tweede

Tweede is the Dutch ordinal numeral meaning "second." It is used as an adjective to indicate order in a sequence and is the standard form for expressing the second item in Dutch, alongside other ordinals such as eerste and derde. Etymologically, it derives from the word twee (two) with a suffix that marks ordinality, and it is cognate with the English word second.

In spelling and grammar, the form agrees with the definiteness of the noun it modifies. For definite nouns you typically use de tweede or het tweede, as in de tweede man or het tweede huis. With indefinite nouns, the form appears as een tweede kans. In fixed expressions and titles, Tweede is capitalized when part of a proper noun, such as in the name Tweede Kamer.

The most prominent use of Tweede as a proper noun is in the Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, the lower house of the Dutch Parliament. The Tweede Kamer has 150 members elected for four-year terms through proportional representation and holds significant legislative and oversight powers. It initiates and amends proposed legislation, debates government policy, and approves the budget. The Kamer can also hold ministers to account, undertake inquiries, and, in certain circumstances, influence cabinet formation. Its counterpart is the Eerste Kamer, the upper house, which reviews legislation passed by the Tweede Kamer.

Outside politics, Tweede appears in everyday language to designate the second item in a sequence, as in Tweede Paasdag (Easter Monday) or phrases like een tweede kans. The term is widely understood in Dutch-speaking regions and is a standard component of numbering and formal names.