verborgen

Verborgen is a Dutch term functioning as an adjective and as the past participle of the verb verbergen, meaning to hide. As an adjective, verborgen describes something concealed, not visible, or not yet known. It can appear before a noun, as in een verborgen deur, een verborgen betekenis, of een verborgen agenda, or predicatively in phrases like Het verhaal bleef verborgen.

Etymology and form: Verborgen derives from verbergen, a verb built with the prefix ver- that conveys concealment. The past participle verborgen is used in various tenses and as an adjective. In everyday Dutch, the word also appears in compound expressions such as verborgen bestanden (hidden files) in computing contexts.

Usage notes: In modern Dutch, verborgen is common in both literal and figurative senses. It signals that something is not immediately perceptible or is kept out of sight, whether by design or circumstance. The term can convey nuance between mere not being visible and being deliberately concealed. It is often paired with nouns describing objects, meanings, intentions, or information.

Synonyms and contrasts: Related terms include verscholen (hidden away, often with a literary nuance), onzichtbaar (invisible), and geheim (secret, confidential). Geheim emphasizes secrecy, while verborgen emphasizes concealment from plain view. Verscholen often carries a slightly poetic or rural tone.

See also: Verbergen (to hide) and geheim (secret). In Dutch, the word verbogen is sometimes encountered as a historical or alternative form, but verborgenen form remains standard for modern usage.