soepel

Soepel is a Dutch adjective meaning flexible, supple, or easily adaptable. It can describe physical properties of objects, such as materials, joints, or cords, as well as non-physical qualities like plans, rules, or attitudes that can be adjusted to changing circumstances. In use, soepel conveys that something is capable of bending or changing without breaking, or that a person or system can adjust to new conditions.

Etymology and related forms: The term is of Dutch origin, with roots in older Dutch forms and broader Germanic language history. The precise historical development is not always detailed in brief summaries, but the core sense of bendability or adaptability is retained across usage.

Usage and examples: Soepel is commonly used to describe both tangible and intangible flexibility. Examples include: “Het materiaal is soepel.” (The material is flexible.) “We hebben een soepele regeling getroffen.” (We have arranged a flexible/loose arrangement.) “Het beleid moet soepeler worden.” (The policy should become more flexible.) “Hij hield een soepele houding tegenover veranderingen.” (He maintained a flexible attitude toward changes.)

Variants and related terms: In practice, soepel is closely related to woorden als flexibel, buigzaam en lenig, which convey overlap but with nuance. Een flexibele organisatie is vaak een bredere formulering dan een soepele regeling. Tegelijkertijd kan soepel ook als contrast dienen met rigide of star, die minder aanpassingsvermogen tonen.

See also: Dutch language resources on adjectives, degree of comparison, and common collocations with beleid, regeling, materiaal, and houding.