leuke

Leuke is the attributive inflected form of the Dutch adjective leuk, which means "fun, nice, pleasant, enjoyable." In modern Dutch, leuk is used to express a positive evaluation of people, activities, things, or experiences, and leuke is the form that commonly precedes a noun.

Usage and form: Before a noun, the adjective typically takes an -e ending, resulting in phrases such as een leuke film, de leuke auto, het leuke idee, en leuke dagen. In plural, the form remains leuke: leuke films, leuke mensen. The predicative form, used after a linking verb, is leuk: Het feestje is leuk. Comparatives form leuker and superlatives form leukst (often written as de leukste/het leukste when used before a noun). The word is frequently used in informal speech and writing to convey enjoyment or approval.

Etymology and history: Leuk originates from Middle Dutch and has evolved in the Dutch language to cover a broad positive sense. It remains one of the most common evaluative adjectives in everyday speech and writing.

Usage notes: Leuk is versatile and combines with a wide range of nouns. It appears in casual phrases such as Dat is leuk, Het was een leuke dag, or We hebben een leuke tijd. Synonyms include fijn, aangenaam, aardig; antonyms include saai and vervelend. The term often appears in media, advertising, and social conversations due to its approachable and upbeat connotation.

See also: Dutch adjectives, Dutch grammar, vocabulary for positive evaluation.