afstandige

Afstandige is a Dutch adjective meaning distant or aloof, typically describing a person’s demeanor or something experienced as emotionally or spatially remote. It is formed from afstand, meaning distance, with the suffix -ig. The word is mainly found in literary or historical contexts; in modern standard Dutch, afstandelijk is the more common term to convey a distant, reserved, or formal manner, while afstandig can appear in older texts or regional usage.

Usage and nuance

Afstandige can refer to both physical distance and social or emotional remoteness. In practice, it often describes a perceived lack of warmth or closeness, rather than a bare measurement of space. Common collocations include afstandige blik (distant/aloof gaze) and afstandige houding (distant/aloof attitude). The choice between afstandig and afstandelijk can affect tone: afstandig tends to be more archaic or literary, while afstandelijk is widely used in everyday language.

Morphology and context

Like other Dutch adjectives, afstandige inflects according to standard rules when combined with nouns. In contemporary usage, the form is rarely required outside specific stylistic contexts. Because of its rarity and stylistic associations, afstandige is often encountered in translations, poetry, or historical writings rather than in casual speech.

Related terms

Related words include afstandelijkheid (the quality of being distant or aloof) and afstandelijk (distant, aloof). The term sits within a family of words built from afstand and describes both spatial separation and interpersonal remoteness.

See also

Distance, aloofness, Dutch vocabulary of mood and tone.