jaagen

Jaagen is an archaic or regional spelling of the Dutch verb jagen, which means to chase or to hunt. In modern standard Dutch, the infinitive is jagen; jaagen is rarely used today and is typically found only in historical texts, regional dialects, or as a spelling variant that has fallen out of use.

Etymology and forms: Jaagen shares the same root as jagen, tied to pursuit and hunting in Dutch. The spelling with double a reflects older orthographic practices in Dutch, where long vowels were sometimes written with aa. Over time standardization consolidated the form jagen.

Usage and context: Because jaagen is not part of contemporary standard Dutch, it appears mainly in older chronicles, dialect dictionaries, or linguistic discussions about historical spelling. In modern writing one should use jagen. For example, a contemporary speaker would say “hij jaagt op wild,” whereas encountering the form “jaagen” suggests an archaic or regional origin rather than standard usage.

Notes: Learners of Dutch are advised to adopt jagen when writing in standard Dutch. Jaagen may be encountered in historical texts, regional literature, or discussions about spelling variation, but it is not considered standard in contemporary Dutch.