respekteeren

Respekteeren is a term sometimes encountered in Dutch-language texts. In modern Dutch the common infinitive is respecteren, meaning to show respect or to comply with norms. Respekteeren is generally considered a nonstandard, dialectal, or historical variant of respecteren, and is not the preferred spelling in contemporary standard Dutch. Some dictionaries or older writings may list respekteeren as an alternative or misspelling. The verb derives from the noun respect, borrowed from French respect, via Latin respectus, and takes standard Dutch verb endings.

Usage: Respecteren denotes recognizing the inherent worth of a person, group, or rule, and acting in accordance with it. It covers interpersonal conduct (honoring someone’s boundaries, listening, polite behavior) and compliance with laws, regulations, or organizational norms. In formal writing, use respecteren; respekteeren is generally avoided unless quoting older texts or dialect-influenced material.

Cultural and linguistic note: Conceptually, respecteren aligns with ideas of respect, deference, and etiquette. In Dutch-speaking regions, notions of respect are tied to norms of politeness, equal treatment, and upholding agreements. Related terms include eerbied (reverence), respect (loanword), and voorzichtigheid (consideration).