onverwachte

Onverwachte is a Dutch adjective meaning not expected or unforeseen. It is used to describe events, actions, or situations that were not anticipated. The word is formed from the prefix on- (negation) attached to verwacht, the verb “to expect,” and is closely related to the noun verwachting (expectation) and the verb verwachten (to expect).

In ordinary usage, the form of onverwachte changes according to Dutch grammar. In attributive position before a noun, it typically takes an -e ending, as in een onverwachte gebeurtenis (an unexpected event) or de onverwachte wending (the unexpected twist). In plural form it becomes onverwachte gebeurtenissen. In predicative position, the adjective usually appears without the -e, as in Het verhaal was onverwacht (The story was unexpected) or Het nieuws bleek onverwacht (The news turned out to be unexpected).

Common contexts for onverwachte include journalism, literature, and everyday speech when describing surprises, twists, or unanticipated outcomes. It can convey a neutral or mildly surprising tone, depending on context, and often appears in phrases such as onverwachte wendingen, onverwachte resultaten, or onverwachte bezoekers.

Related terms include onvoorzien (unforeseen), onverwachtelijk (less common, similar sense), en verwachting en verwachten (expectation and to expect). Antonyms include verwacht or voorzien (foreseen or anticipated).

Overall, onverwachte is a versatile Dutch adjective used to label anything not anticipated, from casual remarks to formal reporting, and it integrates with standard Dutch noun-adjective agreement and predicative usage.