intiem

Intiem is a Dutch adjective meaning intimate, close, personal, or private. It is used to characterize relationships, settings, or conversations that convey closeness or privacy. The term can describe emotional closeness as well as physical intimacy, and it is often applied to private matters or atmospheres that feel confiding or secluded.

Common usages include describing a relationship, a mood, or a gathering. For example, intieme relatie denotes an intimate relationship, intieme sfeer refers to a private or intimate atmosphere, and een intiem gesprek can imply a confidential or close-ended conversation. The nuance of intiem generally emphasizes closeness and privacy rather than explicit sexuality, though in some contexts it may touch on personal or physical aspects.

Etymology traces intiem to French intime, which in turn derives from Latin intimus, meaning innermost or closest. In Dutch, the adjective is frequently inflected to agree with the noun it modifies and appears in both everyday speech and formal writing.

Related terms include intimiteit (intimacy), which nouns that concept, and synonyms such as persoonlijk (personal) or vertrouwd (confidential). Intiem is distinct from more general private or private-use terms in that it foregrounds a sense of closeness and inner adjacency between people or within a setting.

Overall, intiem is a standard, neutral descriptor in Dutch for things characterized by closeness, privacy, or a sense of personal connection, with usage spanning personal relationships, conversations, and atmospheres.