genoot

Genoot is a noun used in Dutch and Afrikaans to denote a person who shares a particular activity, interest, or social circle with someone else; a companion, associate, or fellow member. In Dutch, genoot is largely literary or archaic in contemporary usage, with more common synonyms such as metgezel (companion) or kameraad (comrade). It survives mainly in compounds like genootschap, meaning a society or association, and in historical phrases found in older writings. In Afrikaans, genoot is a standard term that can mean a friend or companion, or a fellow member of a group or organization, and it is widely used in everyday speech, as in phrases like “hy is my genoot” (he is my companion).

Etymology and relations: Genoot stems from the same root as related Dutch and Afrikaans terms referring to companionship or association. The noun forms the basis of several related words, most notably genootschap in Dutch, which denotes a society or organized body.

Usage notes: In Dutch, genoot is uncommon in modern daily language but appears in historical literature, legal texts, or formal registers. In contrast, Afrikaans uses genoot regularly to refer to friends or colleagues within groups, teams, or clubs, and it often carries a sense of shared community or affiliation.

See also: genootschap, metgezel, kameraad, gezelschap.