uiT

Uit is a Dutch word that functions as both an adverb and a preposition. It denotes movement from inside to outside, departure, or removal, and it can indicate source or origin when used with a noun or place name.

Etymology and cognates: Uit derives from Proto-Germanic roots and is related to the German aus and the English out. In Dutch, the form has existed since Old Dutch and remains a core element in many everyday phrases and in the construction of separable prefixed verbs.

Usage in Dutch: In a spatial sense, uit expresses exit or origin, as in het water komt uit de kraan (the water is coming out of the tap) or ik ga uit (I’m going out). It is also used in common phrases such as uit eten gaan (to go out to eat) and uitgaan (to go out socially). With origin, you can say ik kom uit Spanje (I come from Spain). With verbs, uit- forms a wide range of meanings: uitzoeken (to sort out or choose), uitvinden (to invent or figure out), and uitrekken (to stretch out). In sentences, the prefix uit can separate from the verb in many tenses, as in we gaan uit vanavond or ik zoek het uit, while in infinitive forms the prefix may stay attached in some constructions (uitzoeken, uitvinden).

Language notes: Uit is productive in Dutch and appears across many idioms and verb formations. The exact meaning of uit can shift with the accompanying verb, so context is essential for interpretation. It is also a shared element with Afrikaans, where uit carries a closely related meaning.

See also: out (English counterpart) and aus (German counterpart).