krullig

Krullig is an adjective in Dutch used to describe something that has curls or a curled, crimped, or tightly coiled texture. The term is most common in reference to hair, as in krullig haar or een krullige haardos, where it denotes a natural or styled curl. Beyond hair, krullig can be applied to other objects or surfaces with curled or wavy patterns, such as fabric, cords, or decorative edging, although its use outside hair contexts is less frequent.

Etymology and usage context: Krullig derives from krul, meaning curl, with the adjectival suffix -ig, forming a descriptor akin to the English “curly.” The word typically conveys a moderate to pronounced curling characteristic and is usually descriptive rather than evaluative, though tone can shift with context.

Synonyms and related terms: In everyday speech, krullig is contrasted with golvend (wavy) and steil (straight), indicating a stronger curl. In some contexts, other Dutch terms may be used to express related textures, such as frizzy or unruly curls, depending on nuance and register.

Grammatical notes: The base form is krullig, with inflected forms agreeing with gender and number in noun phrases, such as krullig haar, krullige krullen, or krullige kapsel. The related noun forms include krul (curl) and, in descriptive writing, expressions that specify the affected object.

See also: Haartextuur, krul, kroezelig (for frizzy or unruly textures).