particuliere

Particuliere is a Dutch adjective meaning private, personal, or non-public. It is used to describe nouns that pertain to private individuals, private enterprises, or non-governmental contexts. The term stems from the French particulier, entering Dutch through historical borrowings and occurring in modern usage as a common descriptor in everyday language and official terminology.

Etymology and related forms: Particuliere derives from the French word particulier. In Dutch, it functions as an attributive adjective and agrees with the noun it modifies. The related noun form is particulier, which refers to a private individual, while the adjective describes the private nature of a thing or activity.

Usage and examples: Particuliere is widely used in discussions about economics, law, housing, and services to distinguish non-governmental or private aspects from public ones. Examples include the particuliere sector (private sector), particuliere eigenaar (private owner), particuliere woning (private dwelling), and particuliere school (private school). In contrast to openbare (public) or staats-, it signals non-governmental or non-public involvement, ownership, or provision.

Grammatical notes: In Dutch, adjectives like particulieren often take an -e ending before definite nouns, as in de particuliere sector or het particuliere bedrijf. The form can vary with article and definiteness, but the core meaning remains private or non-public.

See also: Public sector; Private sector; Private person; Private ownership.