Voorzichtige

Voorzichtige is a Dutch adjective meaning careful or cautious. It is the inflected form of the more common base adjective voorzichtig, and it is used to describe a cautious approach, behavior, or attitude toward a person or situation. The form appears when the adjective modifies a noun, as in de voorzichtige reiziger or een voorzichtige aanpak, following typical Dutch agreement patterns after definite articles or in singular feminine contexts.

Etymology and form: The word derives from for- or voordat- combinations related to seeing ahead, reflecting a sense of prudence. In standard Dutch, voorzichtig is the core adjective, and voorzichtige represents a declined or gendered variant used in specific syntactic positions. The spelling and usage may vary slightly in regional dialects and Flemish varieties, where the form is still understood and employed.

Usage notes: In contemporary Dutch, voorzichtig is more common in everyday language, while voorzichtige tends to appear in written text, formal speech, or literary contexts. It can describe people (de voorzichtige lezer), actions (een voorzichtige stap), or strategies (een voorzichtige benadering). The term is often paired with nouns that imply risk or uncertainty, emphasizing prudence and deliberate pace.

Synonyms and related terms: voorzichtig, prudent, omzichtig. Antonyms include roekeloos and onvoorzichtig. The choice between voorzichtig and voorzichtige depends on whether the base form is preferred or whether a specific noun phrase requires an inflected adjective.

See also: Dutch adjectives, vergelijking (comparatives), and the related root voorzichtig.