wiel

Wiel is a Dutch noun meaning wheel, the circular component that rotates around an axle to enable movement and carry loads in vehicles and machinery. The basic form is singular wiel, and the plural is wielen. The term is used in everyday language as well as in technical contexts, such as automotive and mechanical discussions. Dutch usage also appears in compounds like tandwiel, meaning gear wheel, which combines the idea of a wheel with teeth to convey transmission of motion.

Etymology and related terms: The word wiel is of Germanic origin and has cognates in related West Germanic languages. Other Germanic languages use different words for the same concept (for example, German uses Rad, while English uses wheel), but the Dutch term wiel shares the same family-wide idea of a circular rotating element.

Usage and examples: Common phrases include een wiel hebben (to have a wheel), vier wielen (four wheels), or een wiel vervangen (to replace a wheel). The term appears across everyday speech and technical writing about vehicles, machinery, and engineering. As part of compounds, wiel forms the basis for terms such as tandwiel (gear wheel) and other wheel-related terminology.

As a proper noun: Wiel can also occur as a surname in Dutch- and Polish-speaking regions and may appear in place names. When used as a name, it is distinct from its common noun meaning, but the spelling and pronunciation are the same.

See also: Tandwiel, Rad (German for wheel), Wheel (English).