liefdevolle

Liefdevolle is a Dutch adjective meaning loving or affectionate. It describes a person, action, or atmosphere characterized by love, warmth, and care. The form is used attributively before a noun, as in een liefdevolle moeder or liefdevolle zorg. In predicative position, the adjective typically remains in its base form and does not take the additional -e: De moeder is liefdevol.

Etymology and form: liefdevolle is derived from liefde, meaning love, combined with vol, meaning full of. The basic meaning thus conveys being full of love or characterized by affection. Like many Dutch adjectives, its ending changes depending on position and definiteness; the attributive form before a noun commonly appears as liefdevolle.

Usage and nuances: Liefdevolle is commonly used in everyday language to describe family relations, caregiving, and expressions of warmth and compassion. It conveys a strong emotional tone more than neutral descriptors like warm or vriendelijk. In more formal contexts, writers may choose alternatives such as teder or hartelijk, depending on nuance. Common collocations include liefdevolle aandacht (loving attention), liefdevolle zorg (loving care), and liefdevolle ouder (loving parent).

See also: liefde, the noun for love, and liefdevol, the base adjective form from which liefdevolle derives. Related terms expressing tenderness or warmth include woorden such as teder and hartelijk.