klaag

Klaag is a Dutch term with historical and dialectal usage that denotes lamentation or complaint. In contemporary standard Dutch, the word is rarely used. The common modern counterparts are klagen (to complain) and klacht (a complaint or grievance). Outside poetry, historical religious texts, and regional dialects, klaag tends to be encountered as an archaic form rather than a living term.

Etymology: Klaag is related to the verb klagen and the noun klacht, sharing roots in early Dutch and other West Germanic languages. The form reflects older spelling and inflection patterns that have since been largely supplanted by klagen and klacht in standard usage. In that sense, klaag illustrates typical historical variation in Dutch vocabulary before standardization.

Usage: In historical writing and dialect dictionaries, klaag appears as a noun meaning lament or complaint, and as a verb stem in older orthography. Modern Dutch generally uses klagen or klacht, but klaag may appear in poetry or in discussions of linguistic history to evoke an archaic or regional flavor.