kruip

Kruip is a Dutch and Afrikaans verb meaning "to creep" or "to crawl." It describes a slow, low-to-the-ground movement typically associated with insects, reptiles, or humans moving on their hands and knees. The word evokes a sense of gradual, deliberate, and often stealthy progress.

In its literal sense, kruip is used for the physical action of crawling. For example, a baby learns to kruip before it can walk. It can also describe how an insect might kruip across a floor. This usage is straightforward and descriptive.

Figuratively, kruip has a more nuanced and often negative connotation. It is frequently used in the phrase "kruip voor iemand," which translates to "to crawl before someone." This idiom signifies acting in an overly subservient or obsequious manner, highlighting a lack of dignity or spine in an attempt to curry favor. It implies a degrading level of flattery or submission.

The word is related to the English word "creep," with which it shares a common Germanic root. Cognates can also be found in other Germanic languages like German ("kriechen"). Due to its strong association with subservience in figurative contexts, kruip is a potent word in Dutch, conveying both a simple action and a complex social commentary on behavior.