fataal

Fataal is an adjective used primarily in Dutch to describe something that causes death or is capable of causing death. The term corresponds to the English fatal, but in Dutch it is spelled fataal, with a double a to indicate a long vowel. In medical, legal, and news contexts, fataal indicates a lethal outcome. For example, een fataal ongeluk means a fatal accident, and fataal letsel refers to a fatal injury.

Origin and cognates: Fataal derives from the Latin fatalis through the French fatal, reflecting a common Indo-European root related to fate or death. The Dutch spelling uses aa to denote a lengthened vowel sound, a characteristic feature of Dutch orthography.

Usage and nuance: In Dutch-language writing, fataal signals that the outcome involved death or is considered deadly. It is typically limited to contexts describing real-world harm, risk, or consequence. In non-Dutch languages, the term is not standard and may be encountered only in quoted Dutch text, branding, or stylized uses.

Other uses: Outside everyday Dutch usage, fataal can appear as a stylized name or title in branding, media, or artistic works. Such uses are informal and vary by creator, and they do not constitute a separate, standardized sense of the word.

See also: fatal, fatality, lethality.