kleurd

Kleurd is a term that appears in Dutch and Afrikaans with different meanings and historical contexts. In Dutch, kleurd is the past participle form related to the verb kleuren, meaning to color. In standard modern Dutch the preferred past participle is gekleurd, and kleurd is rarely used outside historical, regional, or fixed expressions. In Afrikaans, however, kleurd functions as an independent adjective meaning colored, and it is widely encountered in everyday language as part of color-related descriptions.

Etymologically, both Dutch and Afrikaans derive kleurd from the common Germanic root kleur, meaning color. The suffix -d in Dutch marks the past participle, while Afrikaans maintains kleurd as a standalone adjective in contemporary usage. The word thus reflects the close linguistic relationship between Dutch and Afrikaans, with divergent conventions in spelling and grammar.

In Dutch-language contexts, kleurd is generally marked as archaic or dialectal. Modern usage typically employs gekleurd for the past participle, or uses andere expressions such as gekleurde to form adjectival phrases. As a standalone noun or descriptive term, kleurd is uncommon in standard contemporary Dutch outside quotation or historical text.

In Afrikaans, kleurd is common as an adjective and can appear in compounds describing color or shading. It also appears in social and political discourse relating to race and identity in South Africa, where terms connected to racial categories have evolved and remain sensitive. Contemporary usage often emphasizes self-identification and respectful language, with alternatives preferred in official or formal contexts.

See also: Coloured (racial category), Afrikaans language, Dutch language.