jaar

Jaar is the Dutch word for year, used to denote a calendar or fiscal year as a unit of time. It appears in expressions such as één jaar, twee jaar, of drie jaar, and in phrases like het komende jaar or over een jaar. In everyday use, jaar helps specify durations and relates to dates, ages, and annual cycles.

Etymology and cognates: The Dutch term jaar is derived from the Proto-Germanic word *jārą and is cognate with the German Jahr and the English year. The form and meaning reflect common Germanic ancestry for the concept of a yearly cycle.

Usage notes: In Dutch, jaar is a fundamental unit in date and time expressions, as well as in discussions of history, aging, or time spans. It is used in both literal calendar contexts and more informal references to yearly periods, anniversaries, or annual events. Variants and related expressions often appear in combination with other time-related terms to specify duration or timing.

Other uses: Jaar can also be a surname in Dutch- and Afrikaans-speaking communities, where it may occur independently of the meaning “year.” It may appear in toponyms or family names and does not denote a separate concept in these cases, beyond its function as a personal or place-name element.

See also: Year in Dutch language usage; German Jahr; English year. The term shares its core meaning with closely related Germanic languages and serves as a basic temporal unit across Dutch discourse.