ontkleed

Ontkleed is a Dutch verb meaning to remove clothes from oneself or from someone else; to undress. It is formed with the prefix ont- added to kleden, the verb meaning to clothe or dress. The prefix ont- indicates removal or stripping. The verb is commonly used reflexively as zich ontkleden to describe undressing oneself, though in everyday language many speakers prefer zich uitkleden. The past participle is ontkleed, which appears in tenses such as hij heeft zich ontkleed.

In usage, ontkleden covers a range from routine undressing (for example in the bathroom or when changing clothes) to more explicit disrobing contexts, such as medical examinations or staged performances. In some contexts, uitkleden is used to describe undressing someone else or in a more neutral sense of removing clothes, while ontkleden can carry a stronger emphasis on stripping away clothing. Both verbs can be used, with ontkleden often implying a more thorough or abrupt removal.

Etymology and nuance: the prefix ont- is common in Dutch to indicate removal, analogous to de- or un- in English, while kleden means to clothe or dress. The choice between ontkleden and uitkleden often depends on nuance and formality, with uitkleden more frequent in everyday speech and ontkleden appearing in more explicit or stylistic contexts.