betuigen

Betuigen is a Dutch verb meaning to express, indicate, or bear witness. It covers both expressing an emotion or sentiment and confirming a fact or statement. In everyday language, people betuigen sympathy, support, or gratitude, or they betuigen assent to a proposal. In more formal or official contexts, the term can mean to attest or certify something as true.

Nominal forms associated with the verb include betuiging (the act of expressing or indicating something) and betuigingen (the expressions themselves). The betuiging is common in formal writing, for example in "een betuiging van medeleven" (an expression of condolences). The related noun getuigenis refers to testimony or sworn statements in legal contexts, and is sometimes used alongside betuigen when discussing statements and claims.

Origins and nuance: Betuigen implies an outward signal or declaration of a feeling, belief, or fact. It is distinguished from plain stating by its emphasis on the act of expressing or acknowledging. The term is primarily used in Dutch and appears in literary, journalistic, and formal registers.

See also: betuiging, getuigenis, uitdrukken, expressie.