langzamer

Langzamer is a Dutch comparative form of the adjective langzaam, meaning slower or more slowly. It is used to indicate reduced speed relative to a reference point and appears in both spoken and written Dutch. As an adverb it modifies verbs, for example: De auto rijdt langzamer dan de trein. Het vliegtuig kan langzamer vliegen bij slecht weer.

Langzamer also appears in adjectival phrases, typically before a noun to express a slower kind of thing, such as langzamer tempo (slower pace) of langzamer voertuig (slower vehicle). In practice, many speakers prefer to express the idea with a clause, for instance “langzamer rijden” rather than relying solely on a bare attributive form.

Etymology and related forms: Langzamer is the standard comparative form derived from langzaam. The word langzaam itself comes from Dutch roots that combine a sense of duration with the suffix -zaam to form adjectives describing a quality. Langzamerhand is a related adverbial expression meaning “gradually” or “more slowly over time,” distinct from the simple comparative langzamer.

Usage notes: Langzamer is common in everyday language, especially in contexts involving traffic, machinery, performance, or processes that slow down. It functions both as an adverb and as the comparative adjective in phrases that compare speeds or rates.

See also: langzaam, langzamerhand, snelheid, tempo, vergelijking.