speelstuk

Speelstuk is a Dutch noun that refers to a piece used in play. In contemporary usage it most often denotes a playing piece in board games and similar activities, such as pawns, tokens, or figures that represent players or game elements on the board. A game typically contains several speelstukken, often distinguished by color or shape, and each piece follows specific rules for movement within the game. The plural form is speelstukken and the term is widely understood in gaming contexts.

In theatre or dramatic contexts, the term has historical and less common uses meaning a theatrical work or drama. The more standard term for a stage play is toneelstuk, and in modern Dutch speelstuk is rarely used in this sense outside of older texts or specific stylistic choices.

Etymology and related terms: speelstuk is formed from the verb root speel (to play) and stuk (piece, part). It is related to other terms describing playthings, such as speelgoed for toys, but speelstuk specifically designates game pieces or tokens rather than toys in general. The word is typically used in singular for one component and speelstukken for multiple components within a game.

See also: toneelstuk (theatrical play), speelstuk in gaming contexts, speelstukken (plural form in games), speelgoed (toys).