eerlijke

Eerlijke is a Dutch adjective meaning honest, fair, or just. It is used to describe people who act with integrity, as well as actions, rules, or systems that are morally sound or free from deceit. In everyday language, one can say een eerlijke man (an honest man), een eerlijke prijs (a fair price), or een eerlijke handel (a fair/balanced trade). In expressions, eerlijk gezegd means to be honest, or frankly.

Origin and form: Eerlijke derives from eer (honor, reputation) plus the suffix -lijk, forming an adjective; the form eer-lijk becomes eer-lijke in attributive position before a noun. In predicative use, the base form eerlijk is commonly used (Dat verhaal is eerlijk). The spelling and inflection follow standard Dutch adjective rules.

Usage notes: The phrase eerlijke handel is widely used as the Dutch label for fair trade in commerce and labeling. The concept covers ethical concerns in pricing, sourcing, labor rights, and transparency. The term can describe both personal dispositions and institutional practices, and often appears in political and consumer contexts.

See also: eerlijk, eerlijkheid, eerlijk gezegd.