bijna

Bijna is a Dutch adverb meaning almost or nearly. It indicates that something is very close to being true or happening, but not completely. Bijna can modify adjectives, numbers, verbs in compound tenses, or entire clauses, and it is often placed directly before the word it modifies, giving a sense of proximity to a state or event.

In ordinary use, bijna appears before adjectives and past participles, as in Het is bijna klaar (It is almost ready) or We zijn bijna aangekomen (We have almost arrived). It can modify numerals or quantities as well, such as bijna twee uur (almost two hours) or bijna iedereen (almost everyone). Bijna also appears in negative or near‑negative constructions, for example bijna niemand kwam (almost no one came) or het duurde bijna een week (it lasted almost a week).

Bijna is versatile in nuance; it signals that the stated condition is not fully realized, but very close. It often contrasts with volledig of helemaal to emphasize the degree of closeness. A related but stronger term is nauwelijks, which conveys “barely” or “hardly” and typically implies a smaller margin than bijna.

Usage notes: in tense combinations, bijna generally follows the finite verb in simple present or past tenses, but remains adjacent to the word it modifies. In informal speech, its placement can be flexible for emphasis. While bijna is common across Dutch-speaking regions, its use and exact nuance may vary with context and register.

Etymology is not always specified in concise references; it is a long-established core element of Dutch vocabulary, linked to expressing proximity to a threshold of truth or occurrence.