nadrukkelijk

Nadrukkelijk is a Dutch word that functions as an adverb and, when used attributively, as an adjective. It denotes that something is stated, requested, warned, or emphasized with clear force and insistence. In English, it is commonly translated as explicitly or emphatically, depending on context.

Usage and nuance: Nadrukkelijk conveys a sense of strong emphasis or insistence beyond ordinary clarity. It is often used with verbs of saying or instructing as well as with nouns to indicate the importance or urgency of a statement. Common collocations include nadrukkelijk aangeven (to indicate emphatically), nadrukkelijk verzoeken (to request strongly), nadrukkelijke waarschuwing (a strong or explicit warning), and nadrukkelijke aanwezigheid (clear or pronounced presence). The term appears regularly in formal, bureaucratic, and professional registers, but it also occurs in everyday speech to reinforce seriousness or urgency.

Examples:

- De voorzitter vroeg nadrukkelijk om stilte. (The chairperson emphatically requested silence.)

- Ik verzoek u nadrukkelijk om op tijd te komen. (I strongly request you to arrive on time.)

- Dit is een nadrukkelijke waarschuwing tegen het nemen van risico's. (This is a strong/explicit warning against taking risks.)

Etymology and related terms: The word is formed from druk, meaning pressure or emphasis, with an intensifying function. It is closely related in meaning to other Dutch terms such as uitdrukkelijk and expliciet, which also convey explicitness, though nadrukkelijk specifically highlights forceful insistence. In usage, nadrukkelijk typically signals that something should not be ignored and merits careful attention.