slaapt

Slaapt is the third-person singular present tense form of the Dutch verb slapen, meaning to sleep. It is used to describe someone who is currently asleep. Examples include "Hij slaapt nu" and "Het kind slaapt zacht." As with many Dutch verbs, slaapt requires a subject of the appropriate person and number.

The infinitive is slapen. The present tense forms are ik slaap, jij slaapt, hij slaapt, wij slapen, jullie slapen, zij slapen. The past tense is sliep and the past participle is geslapen. Slaapt functions strictly as a verb and does not by itself convey temporal aspects beyond present action.

Etymology: Slapen is a Germanic verb; it is cognate with German schlafen and English sleep, reflecting a shared ancestry for the concept of rest across Germanic languages. The present tense form slaapt derives from regular Dutch conjugation of slapen.

Usage: In everyday Dutch, slaapt appears in neutral statements about sleep. It can also appear in negative or interrogative sentences: "Slaapt hij?" or "Zij slaapt niet." In figurative uses, it may describe dormancy in places or activities, such as "de markt slaapt" for a quiet market.

See also: slapen, slaap, Dutch language, German schlafen, English sleep.

References: The article would rely on standard Dutch dictionaries and verb-conjugation references.