afdronk

Afdronk is a colloquial Dutch term that describes the state that remains after drinking alcohol. It is not a formal medical term, but a word that appears in casual speech and online discussions to refer to the lingering effects of intoxication, such as tiredness, slowed coordination, moodiness, or a sense of not fully having recovered the next day.

The word is formed from af- meaning “off” or “after” and dronk, the simple past tense of drink, or from the related adjective dronken meaning drunk. The construction signals the period following intoxication when the effects are fading but may still be noticeable.

Afdronk is primarily used in Dutch-speaking communities and informal contexts, including social media and youth culture. It can function as a noun (de afdronk) or, less commonly, as an attributive descriptor (een afdronk gevoel). Example: Na het feestje was er nog een duidelijke afdronk.

In usage, afdronk emphasizes the transitional phase after drinking rather than just the immediate symptoms of intoxication. It can overlap with, but remains distinct from, a medical hangover, which focuses more on physical symptoms, whereas afdronk centers on the lingering post-drinking state and mood.

See also hangover; post-drinking effects.