ruimer

Ruimer is the comparative form of the Dutch adjective ruim, meaning more spacious or roomier. It is used to compare the amount of space between two objects, places, or containers. For example: “Het appartement is ruimer dan het vorige,” meaning the apartment is more spacious than the previous one.

Grammatical notes: ruimer is typically placed before the noun or used in a predicate construction. Examples include “een ruimer huis” (a roomier house) and “Deze kamer is ruimer.” Like ruim, ruimer agrees with the noun it describes in number and, in certain constructions, with the predicate.

Etymology and related terms: Ruimer derives from ruim, which originates in Dutch and is related to cognates in other West Germanic languages, all pertaining to space or capacity. Related terms include ruimte (space), ruimtelijk (spatial), and ruimtevaart (space travel), reflecting the broader sense of physical or figurative space.

Usage notes: While ruimer primarily describes physical space, it can also be extended to describe capacity, such as the interior of containers or the size of accommodations. In some contexts, speakers may prefer alternative phrasing like “meer ruim” for emphasis, but ruimer remains the standard comparative form.

See also: ruim, ruimte, ruimtelijk.