nietgezond

Nietgezond is a Dutch term used to describe something as not healthy or unhealthy. It can refer to people, diets, habits, environments, or products that do not meet accepted health standards. The expression appears in everyday language, health education material, and media discussions about wellbeing.

Etymology and spelling notes: the word is built from the negation particle niet and the adjective gezond. In standard Dutch, the common form is two separate words: niet gezond. The closed form nietgezond is rare and generally considered nonstandard; it may appear in headlines, slogans, or stylistic uses where a compact form is preferred. In many contexts, speakers also use ongezond to convey the sense of inherently harmful or unhealthy.

Usage and nuance: niet gezond emphasizes that something is not healthy, as opposed to being fundamentally unhealthy by default. The adjective ongezond is more commonly used to describe something as unhealthy in a general sense. Examples include: Roken is niet gezond. Dit dieet is niet gezond. Overmatig suikergebruik is ongezond. The choice between niet gezond and ongezond can reflect emphasis, formality, and style.

See also: Gezondheid, Ongezond, Gezond gedrag, Voeding.