aangeschoten

Aangeschoten is a Dutch adjective used to describe a state of mild intoxication from alcohol, typically meaning someone is tipsy or slightly under the influence. It signals that the person has consumed enough alcohol to feel its effects but is not yet fully drunk. The term is common in informal speech in the Netherlands and is often paired with qualifiers such as licht (light) or redelijk (reasonably) to indicate the degree of intoxication.

The exact etymology is not tied to a single, clear verb in contemporary usage; the form combines a prefix suggesting onset or intensity with schoten, a word historically related to shooting but here used idiomatically. Regardless of its origins, aangeschoten functions as a practical, everyday description of state rather than a medical diagnosis.

Usage notes and nuance: Aangeschoten implies a temporary, controllable level of impairment—slightly relaxed mood, mild coordination or judgment effects, and possible slurred speech at higher levels of tipping. It contrasts with dronken (drunk), which denotes a higher, more impairing level of intoxication. The term is often used humorously or descriptively rather than in formal contexts, and speakers may vary by region in their preference for alternatives like licht aangeschoten, een beetje aangeschoten, of beschonken.

In literature and media, aangeschoten is employed to convey a character’s state without overstating impairment, preserving plausibility and tone in scenes involving social drinking. See also dronken, licht beschonken, tippen.