Vieze

Vieze is a Dutch adjective meaning dirty, nasty, or unpleasant. It describes physical dirt, foul smells or tastes, and also morally questionable behavior. In use, it typically modifies a noun: vieze handen (dirty hands), een vieze lucht (a foul odor), een vieze grap (a dirty joke). It can refer to people or actions in a negative sense as well, for example een vieze gewoonte (a dirty habit) or een vieze streek (a nasty trick). The term conveys a range of intensity from ordinary dirt to strong disapproval, depending on context and tone.

Etymology and usage notes: Vieze derives from vies, the Dutch word for dirty, with the common attributive inflection used before nouns. It is a standard, everyday word found across informal and formal contexts. In translation, it is often rendered as dirty, nasty, or filthy, with nuances tied to whether the reference is physical dirt, odor, taste, or moral judgment.

Related terms and contrasts: Other Dutch descriptors of uncleanliness include smerig (grimy or grubby) and onhygiënisch (unsanitary). While vieze is widely appropriate, some contexts—especially descriptions of people or sensitive subjects—may require more careful or milder wording to avoid offense.

Overall, vieze is a versatile, neutral-to-negative descriptor in Dutch that covers both tangible uncleanliness and morally dubious behavior, depending on how it is applied.