onwerkelijk

Onwerkelijk is a Dutch adjective meaning unreal, unbelievable, or dreamlike, and it describes experiences, events, or appearances that do not seem to correspond with ordinary reality. The word is formed from the negating prefix on- and werkelijk, meaning real or true; together they convey a sense of not being real or not easily believed.

In usage, onwerkelijk can describe perceptions, landscapes, or situations that feel surreal or extraordinary. It appears in everyday speech and in prose, journalism, and criticism. It can carry a positive nuance (onwerkelijk mooi) or convey disbelief about a circumstance (het leek onwerkelijk).

Grammatically, onwerkelijk behaves as a regular adjective: het onwerkelijke beeld, een onwerkelijke gebeurtenis. The noun form is onwerkelijkheid, referring to unreality or the state of being unreal.

Related terms include werkelijkheid and realiteit (both meaning reality), as well as surrealistisch, which is often used for art or literature that resembles surrealism. The term is commonly understood in Dutch-speaking contexts and can be translated to English as unreal, surreal, or unbelievable, depending on nuance and context.