kansen

Kansen is a Dutch noun meaning "chance" or "opportunity." The form kansen is the plural of kans, and kans itself is used for both a single possibility and various possibilities in plural contexts. The singular kans appears in phrases such as de kans op regen (the chance of rain) or een kans hebben (to have a chance). The plural kansen is used for multiple opportunities or possibilities, for example er zijn vele kansen voor jonge mensen.

In everyday speech, kansen are described as favourable or unfavourable possibilities and are central to discussions of probability and risk. In mathematical contexts, kans translates as probability; common constructions include kansrekening or kansberekening (probability calculation) and de kans dat iets gebeurt (the probability that something happens).

Kansen is also widely used in idiomatic expressions. Examples include kansen grijpen (to seize opportunities), kansen benutten (to make use of opportunities), en kansen vergroten (to increase opportunities). The term is found in business, education, politics, and media when discussing growth prospects, job opportunities, or social mobility.

Etymology: The Dutch kans is related to the English word chance and has cognates in other Germanic languages; it is historically linked to concepts of fortune and luck.