dierlijke

Dierlijke is a Dutch adjective that denotes relation to animals or animal-like characteristics. It is formed from the noun dier (animal) with the suffix -lijk, which is used in Dutch to create adjectives meaning “like” or “pertaining to.” As such, dierlijke describes something that originates from animals, involves animals, or resembles animal traits.

In usage, dierlijke can describe beings, features, or processes in biology and zoology, as well as in more general language. Examples include phrases such as dierlijke wezens (animal beings) or dierlijke kenmerken (animal characteristics). The term helps distinguish things connected to the animal kingdom from humans, plants, or inanimate objects.

Orthographically, dierlijke appears as the attributive form before a noun in many contexts, especially when the noun is definite or plural (for example, de dierlijke huid). In other grammatical positions, the base form dierlijk may be encountered, though the exact inflection follows standard Dutch adjective rules.

Etymologically, the word is built from dier with the suffix -lijk, a productive Dutch pattern for forming adjectives meaning “related to” or “having the character of.” The related noun dier refers to animals, while dierlijk serves as the descriptive term used in everyday language and academic writing to contrast animal-related topics with other domains.

See also: dier, dierenrijk, dierwereld, dierlijkheid.