iedere

Iedere is a Dutch determiner meaning "every" or "each," used before a singular count noun to refer to all members of a group. It is contrasted with alle, which is used with plural nouns. In standard Dutch, iedere can be used before singular common-gender nouns: Iedereen? Wait, ensure correct: example: "Iedere dag," "Iedere student," "Iedere klant." The variant elk is largely synonymous; ieder tends to be more formal or emphatic, while elke and elk are common in everyday speech. The form heeft no plural; when referring to all people, the pronoun iedereen is used, meaning "everyone." Example: "Iedereen is welkom."

Etymology and related forms: Iedere derives from an older form of the word meaning each, and is cognate with German jeder and English each. The inflected determiner before singular nouns is written as "iedere" (e.g., "iedere reiziger"). The related pronoun everyone, iedereen, combines idee with -en to denote a collective group.

Usage notes: In contemporary Dutch, iedere is frequent in both written and spoken language and is generally interchangeable with elke in many contexts. Slight nuance exists: ieder can be more emphatic about each individual within a set, while elke is often the more neutral choice. For plural reference, speakers typically use alle.

See also: iedereen, elke, elk, alle, ieder.