ontspannt

Ontspannt is not a standard Dutch word found in most dictionaries. In contemporary Dutch, the adjective for “relaxed” is typically expressed with ontspannen (used as a past participle or predicate adjective) or with ontspannend (the present participle used as an adjective). The form ontspannt is generally considered a misspelling or nonstandard variant.

Origin and meaning: The term is built from the prefix ont- meaning undoing or removing, together with spannen (to tighten). The overall sense is to undo tension, resulting in a relaxed state. As an adjective, ontspannen describes a person, mood, or situation that is not tense. The related form ontspannend describes something that causes relaxation, as in een ontspannende activiteit (a relaxing activity). The past participle ontspannen can describe someone who feels relaxed: Ik ben ontspannen.

Usage notes: In standard Dutch, avoid ontspannt and prefer ontspannen or ontspannend depending on meaning. Spelling variations may occur in informal writing or under influence from other languages. Common collocations include een ontspannen sfeer, een ontspannen houding, ontspannende muziek, and rustige ademhaling. Antonyms include gespannen and gestrest; synonyms include kalm and zorgeloos.

See also: ontspanning (relaxation) and related health, psychology, and lifestyle contexts where a state of ease or relaxation is described. While ontspannt may appear in some informal texts or as a misspelling, zorgvuldige spelling is ontspannen (as a past participle or adjective) or ontspannend (as a present participle).