kamer

Kamer is a word with several related uses in Dutch and other Germanic languages. In Dutch (and Afrikaans), kamer means a room or chamber, and it appears in a variety of everyday and formal terms referring to spaces or bodies that meet for official business. The term also occurs in institutional names, for example the Kamer van Koophandel, the Chamber of Commerce, historically used for Dutch-speaking business registries in the Netherlands and Belgium.

In political contexts, kamer denotes a legislative chamber. The Netherlands uses the term in its two houses: the Eerste Kamer (Senate) and the Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives). In Belgium, the Dutch-language lower house is called the Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers (Chamber of Representatives). Thus, kamer commonly designates an assembly authorized to debate and decide on laws, as well as a physical room where such meetings occur.

Kamer is also a surname of Dutch and German origin. As a proper name, it appears in individuals and families across regions where Dutch or Germanic languages have been spoken. The usage as a surname is generally distinct from the common noun meaning room.

The word has cognates in other languages, such as German Kammer or English chamber, reflecting a common Indo-European root for a room or assembly. In everyday use, kamer continues to function as both a generic noun and a recognizable part of official titles or organizational names.