maten

Maten is a Dutch word with several related meanings. In its most common use, it is the plural form of maat, meaning size or measurement.

As a noun, maten refers to the different sizes or dimensions of objects and garments. It is used for clothing sizes (for example, small, medium, large) and for describing the dimensions of containers, rooms, or other items. The singular form maat denotes a single size, while maten denotes multiple sizes.

In informal speech, maat can also mean a friend or buddy. In some dialects or registers, the plural maten may be used to refer to a group of friends. This sense is colloquial and less formal than the primary meaning relating to size or measurement.

As a verb, maten is the past tense of meten, meaning to measure. It occurs in sentences such as, for example, "We maten de ruimte," meaning we measured the space. The verb form is unrelated to the noun senses beyond sharing the same root related to measurement.

Etymology and related terms: the Dutch word maat and its plural maten originate from Dutch and share roots with other Germanic languages. Cognates include German Maß (measure) and the general concept of measurement found across related languages.

Overall, maten is primarily encountered in contexts dealing with sizes and measurements, with an additional informal usage in reference to friends, and a distinct verb form describing past measurement.