randje

Randje is a Dutch noun meaning a small border or edge. It is the diminutive form of rand, which denotes the outer limit of an object or area. Randje is used for concrete borders, such as the randje van een bord (the edge of the plate), het randje van het papier, or the border around an image in a layout. In figurative use, randje can describe a narrow margin or boundary, for example op het randje van de afgrond (on the edge of the abyss). The diminutive nuance often conveys smallness, delicacy, or proximity to a limit.

The word is formed from rand + -je, and is cognate with German Rand and English rim or border. In Dutch, related terms include rand (the border itself), grens (boundary), and marge (margin). Randje tends to be more informal and conversational than rand or marge, which are preferred in formal or technical contexts.

Examples: Het randje van het bord is gebroken. De kaart heeft een wit randje dat wat scheef zit. Hij stond op het randje van de afgrond. See also: rand, grens, marge.