Zogenaamde

Zogenaamde is a Dutch attributive adjective meaning "so-called." It precedes a noun and signals that the label attached to that noun is contested, disputed, or used more as a conventional name than as a statement of fact. In neutral contexts it can simply reflect a term that is commonly used, but it frequently carries a skeptical or critical nuance, especially in journalism, politics, and public discourse. For example, de zogenoemde experts refers to experts by a label that the writer questions, and het zogenoemde probleem points to a problem that is framed by a particular term.

Etymology and form: the word originates from zo meaning "so" or "thus" and genoemd, the past participle of noemen "to name." The result is a compound adjective that is inflected to agree with number and definiteness of the noun it accompanies. In practice, you will often see de zogenoemde … and het zogenoemde … in definite phrases; with plural nouns the form remains zogenoemde (e.g., de zogenoemde experts). There is also the related adverb zogenaamd, meaning "supposedly" or "allegedly," used without a following noun.

Usage notes: zogenaamd is a common rhetorical device in Dutch that can introduce skepticism or distance, but it is not inherently negative; it depends on tone and context. Overuse or sarcastic application can undermine a claim, so it is typically employed when the speaker wishes to challenge a label or indicate that the term is being used by convention rather than reflected in consensus or evidence. In translations, it is often rendered as "so-called" in English.