rommelig

Rommelig is a Dutch adjective meaning messy, untidy, or cluttered. It describes spaces, objects, or situations that lack order or are filled with disorder. The term is common in everyday speech and is understood in both the Netherlands and Belgian Dutch. In more formal writing, terms like ordelijk or geordend may be preferred depending on the context.

Etymology and form: Rommelig derives from the noun rommel meaning clutter or debris, with the suffix -ig forming adjectives. The word can appear in predicative position as rommelig (Het bureau is rommelig) or in attributive position before a noun as rommelige, for example een rommelige kamer.

Usage and examples: The word describes a variety of things, from a messy desk to a disordered room. It conveys a perception of untidiness rather than moral judgment. For emphasis, speakers may say “heel rommelig” or “zeer rommelig.”

Nuances and related terms: Rommelig is less formal than synonyms such as ongeordend or chaotisch and typically carries a mild, everyday tone. Antonyms include netjes, ordelijk, or schoon. The noun forms include rommel (mess) and rommeligheid (messiness).

Regional and cross-linguistic notes: Rommelig is widely understood in Dutch, with similar terms used in related languages to describe disorder or a lack of tidiness. In formal contexts, more precise terms for orderliness may be preferred, but rommelig remains a common everyday descriptor for cluttered spaces.