talrijk

Talrijk is a Dutch adjective meaning numerous or many, used to express that a quantity or number of people, objects, or events is large. It is common in formal, descriptive, or literary contexts.

Etymology and related forms: talrijk is formed from tal, meaning number, and rijk, meaning rich. It is cognate with German zahlreich and with the English term numerous, reflecting a shared Indo-European idea of abundance.

Usage: The word is typically used attributively before a plural noun, as in talrijke inwoners (numerous inhabitants) or talrijke voorbeelden (numerous examples). It can describe both concrete and abstract quantities and is most often found in written Dutch rather than in everyday speech. In plural form, the adjective takes the customary Dutch inflection, appearing as talrijke before the noun.

Nuance and emphasis: talrijk underscores an actual count or significant plurality rather than a vague sense of “many.” It conveys that the occurrences are numerous enough to be noticeable or noteworthy, rather than merely sufficient or frequent.

Examples: Talrijke bezoekers attended the festival. Talrijke studies tonen aan dat het beleid effectief is. In English, these would be rendered as “numerous visitors attended the festival” and “numerous studies show that the policy is effective.”

See also: veel (many), veelvuldig (frequent, multiple), talrijkheid (rare but occasional noun form), zahlreich (German for the same concept).