withleggen

Withleggen is a Dutch term used primarily in informal or Anglicized contexts. It refers to the act of attaching or enclosing something along with another item, such as a document, package, or message. The word is not recognized as a standard Dutch verb in formal language and is generally considered a calque or loanword from English-influenced speech.

Etymology and usage notes. The form combines the English preposition with the Dutch verb leggen (to lay or place). Because of its mixed origin, withleggen appears most often in casual writing, multilingual workplaces, or online, where speakers blend languages. In formal Dutch, more established verbs are preferred, such as bijleggen, bijvoegen, meesturen, toevoegen, or meevoegen.

Examples and context. In practice, withleggen may appear in sentences like “Ik zal het bestand metleggen bij de e-mail,” which would be understood by many but is not standard Dutch. For clear communication in official or edited text, it is advisable to use conventional alternatives: “Ik zal het bestand bijvoegen/ meesturen bij de e-mail.” The term can signal bilinguality or a lack of fluency, so readers often interpret it as informal or non-native usage.

See also. Bijleggen, bijvoegen, meesturen, toevoegen, meevoegen.