Zeker

Zeker is a Dutch word that functions as an adverb and an adjective, meaning "certain" or "sure," and is widely used in both the Netherlands and Belgian Dutch. As an adverb it expresses certainty or emphasis, and as an adjective it describes something that is definite, reliable, or guaranteed.

As an interjection, "Zeker!" is used to express strong agreement, roughly equivalent to "Sure!" or "Certainly!" in English. The word also occurs in common phrases such as "Dat klopt zeker" (That is certainly correct) and "Ik ga zeker naar het feest" (I will definitely go to the party).

When used attributively before a noun, zeker inflects as "zekere" in most contexts. For example, "een zekere kans" means "a certain/fairly certain chance," and "de zekere winnaar" means "the certain winner." The related noun zekerheid means "certainty" or "assurance," and phrases like "met zekerheid" convey the sense of certainty or confidence.

Etymology: Zeker is a core Dutch term with roots in the history of the Dutch language. It is native to Dutch and is cognate with related West Germanic words such as German sicher, conveying the idea of certainty or security. The exact historical form and evolution are not always explicit in modern dictionaries, but the sense and usage have remained stable across centuries.

See also: zekerheid, zeker weten, zekerheid.