laat

Laat is a Dutch word with several related uses in everyday language. As an adjective, laat means late in time, as in Het is laat (It is late) or We zijn laat (We are late). It can also appear as part of comparative or related forms such as laatst or de laatste, which mean last or most recent in a sequence.

As an adverb, laat functions in time expressions and in combination with te to express degree of lateness, most commonly te laat, meaning too late. In addition, the phrase laat maar is a common idiom meaning “never mind,” “let it be,” or “go ahead with a plan without further fuss.”

Most importantly, laat is a finite form of the verb laten, which means to let, to allow, or to cause something to happen by someone else. In present tense, laten appears as ik laat (I let), jij laat, hij/zij laat, and wij/jullie/zij laten. The imperative form is Laat me gaan (Let me go). Laten is used to form causative or permissive constructions, such as Ik laat hem komen (I will have him come) or Laat het maar gebeuren (Let it happen).

Phonologically and historically, laat shares a Germanic lineage with the English word late. Both derive from older Proto-Germanic roots related to the concept of delay or tardiness, and Dutch forms such as laat are cognate with similar forms in neighboring Germanic languages.

In usage, laat appears across adjectives, adverbs, and verbs, and it features in common phrases and idioms that reflect time, permission, and causation. See also the verb laten (to let) and related Dutch terms for time expressions and last or latest (laatste).