aarzelt

Aarzelt is a Dutch verb meaning to hesitate or to be hesitant before making a decision or taking action. It describes a temporary doubt or reluctance to commit, often during weighing options or considering a next step. The noun form related to this concept is aarzel, referring to the act or state of hesitation.

Origin and usage notes: Aarzelen derives from the noun aarzel. The word is attested in Middle Dutch and remains common in modern Dutch. It is primarily used to describe mental hesitation rather than physical movements, and it can appear in formal or informal contexts to indicate a pause before proceeding.

Conjugation overview: In the present tense, the forms are: ik aarzel, jij/je aarzelt, hij/zij/het aarzelt, wij aarzelen, jullie aarzelen, zij aarzelen. The simple past tense is formed as ik aarzelde, jij aarzelde, hij aarzelde, wij aarzelden, jullie aarzelden, zij aarzelden. The past participle is geaarzeld, used with hebben, as in Ik heb geaarzeld.

Usage examples: Ik aarzel even voordat ik een besluit neem. Weaarzelden te lang en miste de kans. Het woord wordt vaak gebruikt samen met twijfelen, maar aarzelen kan een sterkere connotatie van terughoudendheid dragen in de richting van beslissen.

See also: twijfelen; aarzel (noun). Dutch speakers may substitute with twijfelen in casual contexts, though aarzelen connotes a more deliberate pause before action.