bevat

Bevat is a Dutch verb meaning contains or includes. It is the present-tense form used with singular subjects and is derived from the verb bevatten (to contain). In everyday language it appears most often in product labels, ingredient lists, and descriptions where it signals what is inside or part of something. Example: Dit product bevat melk. Deze doos bevat noten.

Grammatical notes: In the present tense, het/zij/het bevat is used for singular subjects, and de ingrediënten bevatten is used for plural subjects. The form is commonly used in listing contents and allergen information. The spelling preserves the stem bevat- with an -t ending for singular.

Usage and nuance: Bevat is typical for labeling and informational contexts, including nutrition facts and packaging. It can be contrasted with omvatten, which tends to be more formal or broad in scope, and with inhouden, which is often used for the content of a text or statement. While all three relate to content, they are not always interchangeable and choice depends on nuance and register.

See also: bevatten, omvatten, inhouden.