concreet

Concreet is a Dutch adjective and adverb meaning tangible, real, or specific. It is used to describe things that can be perceived or that have clearly defined details, as opposed to abstract concepts. In everyday language, concreet signals practicality and clarity, helping to distinguish plans, ideas, or data from theoretical or vague notions.

Etymology and sense development: the term stems from Latin concretus and entered Dutch through Romance or early contact with other European languages. In Dutch usage, concret often accompanies nouns to express a definite, material, or well-defined nature, and it can also function as an adverb in phrases such as concreet gezegd or concreet gezien to introduce practical specifics.

Common usage: concrete phrases include concreet plan, concreet doel, concreet voorbeeld, and concreet bewijs, all of which emphasize specificity and achievability. The verb phrase concreet maken means to make something concrete or to specify and implement details rather than leave them vague. In contrast, abstracte concepten refer to ideas without concrete instantiation.

Translation and cross-linguistic notes: in English, the closest equivalents are concrete or concretely. In Dutch texts, concreet often appears in discussions of planning, evaluation, journalism, and academic writing to ground arguments in tangible details. While it is widely understood within Dutch-speaking contexts, the term is not typically used in English prose unless quoted from Dutch or to convey the Dutch nuance.

Overall, concreet marks a shift from generality to specificity, emphasizing tangible, clear, and practically applicable elements.