tusschen

Tusschen is an archaic or dialectal Dutch form meaning between or in the middle of. In modern standard Dutch, the corresponding word is tussen, which is the form used in most contemporary writing and speech. Tusschen thus survives in historical texts and in certain regional varieties, where it can reflect older orthographic practices or local pronunciation.

Etymology and historical context: The word tusschen derives from the same Germanic root as tussen, related to the idea of being positioned between two or more elements. Its continued appearance in older Dutch printings and in some dialects illustrates how Dutch spelling and pronunciation have evolved over time. The use of a double s in tusschen is characteristic of earlier orthographic conventions that later consolidated into the modern tussen.

Usage: Today, tusschen is primarily of interest to linguists, philologists, and readers of historical literature. It appears in quotations, religious or poetic texts, and regional writings where archaic flavor or dialectal character is intended. In standard, formal Dutch, tusschen is generally regarded as obsolete or nonstandard.

Examples: An archaic sentence might read “Tusschen twee dorpen lag een beek,” meaning “Between two villages lay a brook.” In modern Dutch this would be written: “Tussen twee dorpen ligt een beek.”

See also: tussen, tussen-forms in other Germanic languages, historical Dutch orthography, Dutch dialects, Dutch language history.