aanstaande

Aanstaande is a Dutch word that functions primarily as an adjective meaning forthcoming or upcoming. It is used to indicate events, periods, or people that are expected to occur or become relevant in the near future. In everyday use it appears in combinations with time expressions (aanstaande vrijdag, aanstaande week) or with nouns referring to time frames (aanstaande maand). The sense is close to the English upcoming or near-future.

Etymology and scope: The term comes from the verb staan with the prefix aan-, which conveys that something is due or about to occur. Historically it has appeared in more formal or official language, but today it is common in ordinary speech across Dutch-speaking regions, including the Netherlands and Flanders.

Usage notes: As an adjective, aanstaande normally precedes the noun it modifies, yielding phrases such as aanstaande vrijdag (this coming Friday) or aanstaande vakantie (upcoming holiday). It can also appear in longer phrases to indicate the imminence of events, for instance in planning contexts or announcements.

As a noun: in informal Dutch, aanstaande can refer to a person who will become a spouse—one's fiancé or fiancée—often in the concise form mijn aanstaande. In formal writing or speech, the noun verloofde is preferred for the betrothed person. When used as a noun, the gender of the person is inferred from context rather than from the word itself.

Related terms include verloofde and phrases for upcoming time periods. In summary, aanstaande is a versatile term for describing imminent events and future relationships within Dutch.