volkomen

Volkomen is a Dutch word that functions as both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective it can mean complete or perfect, typically in formal or literary usage. As an adverb it mainly means completely or utterly, used to intensify an adjective or a clause, for example in phrases like volkomen zeker or volkomen onwaar.

Etymology: Volkomen derives from vol, meaning full, and komen, to come, literally “to come to fullness.” The form is attested in Middle Dutch and is cognate with German vollkommen. Related Dutch terms include volledig (completely) and geheel (entire).

Usage notes: Volkomen is relatively formal or archaic in contemporary speech. In everyday conversation, speakers often choose helemaal or volledig to convey similar meaning, with volkomen adding a strong, solemn emphasis. It commonly accompanies statements about truth, certainty, or moral judgments: “Dat is volkomen waar” (That is completely true), “volkomen onwaar” (utterly false). It can also appear before a noun to convey “a complete solution” in fixed phrases, though this usage is less frequent.

Noun form: volkomenheid refers to perfection or completeness and appears mainly in philosophical or literary writing.

See also: Its opposite or negative scale can be conveyed with onvolkomen (incomplete) or imperfective terms like onvolledig. In translation, volkomen is often rendered as completely, utterly, or perfectly, depending on context and register.