langzaam

Langzaam is a Dutch word meaning slow. It functions as an adverb to describe the manner of action and as an adjective describing the speed, pace, or progression of a noun. As an adverb it answers how something is done: het verkeer rijdt langzaam. As an adjective it can modify nouns and, like other Dutch adjectives, inflects for number and definiteness (for example, een langzame auto, de langzame auto, of langzame beweging) to indicate slow speed or gradualness. The word can describe both physical speed and temporal progression.

Etymology and usage: Langzaam is a compound of lang (long) and the derivational suffix -zaam, forming an adjective with the sense of slow or gradual. The exact historical development is part of Dutch etymology, but today it clearly marks a slow tempo or slow rate of change. In everyday speech, it appears in contexts ranging from describing motion to characterizing processes or trends.

Common phrases and contexts: The expression langzaam maar zeker is widely used to mean “slowly but surely.” In traffic and road contexts, signs and warnings commonly use Langzaam to instruct drivers to reduce speed. In journalism, education, and conversation, the term appears whenever a subject is moving at a reduced pace or undergoing gradual development, from gradual reforms to slow-moving projects.

See also: Dutch language, Dutch adjectives, road signs, language usage.