diepe

Diepe is the attributive form of the Dutch adjective diep, meaning deep. It is used before a noun to express substantial depth, as in de diepe zee (the deep sea) or een diepe put (a deep well). In predicative position, the corresponding form is diep, as in Het water is diep.

In terms of grammar, diepe appears after determiners that require an -e ending in Dutch, such as de, het, of possessive determiners, and it also shows up in the plural: de diepe rivieren. The basic comparative form of diep is dieper, and the superlative is diepste (for example: de diepste plek). The form diep is used when describing depth as a property without a preceding determiner, or in predicate position.

Semantics and usage extend beyond literal depth. Diepe is commonly used metaphorically to describe abstract depth, such as een diepe overtuiging (a profound conviction) or een diepe zucht (a deep sigh). The related noun diepte denotes the measure or state of depth itself, as in de diepte van de oceaan.

Etymology traces diepe back to the Dutch word diep, which in turn comes from Old Dutch diep and Proto-Germanic roots meaning “deep.” Diepte as a noun is closely related to the adjective, forming a set of terms that describe physical or figurative depth. Diepe remains a standard, widely used form in contemporary Dutch.