lerares

Lerares is a Dutch noun that designates a female teacher, serving as the feminine counterpart to leraar. The form lerares is formed from leraar by adding the feminine suffix -es, a pattern used in Dutch to create feminine nouns.

In use, lerares refers to a woman who teaches, typically in primary or secondary education, and is employed in schools in both the Netherlands and Flanders. It is a standard, widely understood term, though its frequency can vary by region and setting. Like other gendered occupational terms, its usage interacts with broader attitudes toward gender in language; in some contexts, the masculine form leraar may be used generically, or professionals may prefer neutral terms.

Contemporary language notes emphasize gender neutrality in some environments. The term docent is often used as a gender-neutral alternative for a teacher or lecturer, especially in higher education or formal writing. In everyday speech, older or more traditional terms such as juffrouw have largely fallen out of official use, though they may still appear in historical or nostalgic contexts. When referring to a mixed or unspecified group of teachers, speakers may opt for gender-neutral phrasing like "leraren en leraressen" or simply "docenten" to avoid marking gender.

Overall, lerares remains a recognized and clear designation for a female teacher within Dutch-speaking communities, while linguistic trends encourage neutral alternatives in contexts that aim to minimize gender distinction.