verkleinwoordsvorm

Verkleinwoordsvorm, or diminutive form, is a grammatical formation in Dutch that marks small size, affection, familiarity, or a lighter tone. It is most commonly created by attaching a diminutive suffix to the base noun. The usual suffixes are -je, -tje, -etje, -pje, and -kje. The exact choice depends on the final sound of the stem and on pronunciation: for many stems the default is -je (boek → boekje, huis → huisje), while after certain consonants -tje or -etje may be preferred (kaart → kaartje, stoel → stoeltje). In some cases the final consonant is doubled before adding the suffix (man → mannetje).

Diminutive nouns are generally treated as neuter in grammatical gender, and thus take the neuter article het in the singular (het tafeltje, het kindje). The form is usually a single word, with spelling adjustments reflecting the chosen suffix. The diminutive can also be formed on many common words in everyday speech, occasionally producing sound changes or spelling variants such as steentje from steen.

In use, verkleinwoordsvormen convey various nuances: smallness or cuteness, affection or familiarity, or a more informal, light-hearted or ironic tone. They can also lessen the perceived intensity of a statement or soften criticism. While productive in standard Dutch, not all nouns admit a diminutive naturally, and there are irregularities and regional preferences in how diminutives are formed and understood.

Overall, the verkleinwoordsvorm is a pervasive and flexible feature of Dutch morphology, shaping both meaning and grammatical behavior of nouns in everyday language.