vlekkige

Vlekkige is a Dutch adjective meaning blotchy, speckled, or mottled. It describes surfaces, patterns, or colors that show irregular patches of color or stains rather than a uniform appearance. The term is used for both natural characteristics and man-made textures.

Common contexts include describing animal fur with patches, leaves or bark with spots, fabrics or walls that carry stains, or any surface where color is uneven. In botany and zoology, vlekkig can signal deliberate or natural variegation, while in everyday language it often conveys a perceptible, irregular pattern rather than a clean, uniform color.

Etymology and usage: vlekkig derives from the Dutch noun vlek, meaning stain or blot, with the typical adjective suffix -ig. In attributive position before a noun, the form vlekkige is used (for example, de vlekkige vacht, een vlekkige blad- of vachtpatroon). Dutch adjectives agree with the noun in definiteness and number, but vlekkige is the standard form in common descriptive use.

Opposite terms include vlekkenvrij or vlekkeloos, both indicating the absence of stains or a uniformly clean appearance.

See also: vlek (stain), vlekken (stains), variegation (in a botanical context).