wonend

Wonend is a Dutch term derived from the verb wonen, meaning to live or reside. In English, it is often translated as residing or living. Wonend functions as the present participle or as an adjective and is most commonly found in formal, legal, or genealogical contexts rather than in everyday speech. It indicates the place where someone resides.

Etymology and form: The word comes from the verb wonen with the participial suffix -end. The form wonend is typically paired with a locative preposition to specify a place, as in wonende te Amsterdam or wonend te Rotterdam. The participle can also appear in the related noun form wonenden, meaning “the residents” or “the people living there.”

Usage in records: In civil registries, genealogical documents, and older official texts, wonend is used to state a person’s place of residence at a certain time. For example, a birth record might list a person as “X, wonende te Haarlem.” This construction helps establish residency for legal or administrative purposes. The phrase remains recognizable in historical documents and contemporary formal writing, though modern Dutch often favours combinations such as woonplaats or wonen in followed by a city.

Contemporary context: While still understood, wonend is less common in everyday speech. In current usage, speakers more frequently use phrases like wonen in [place] or woonachtig in [place], or simply refer to a person’s woonplaats (place of residence). The plural form wonenden can denote the residents of a locality.

See also: Wonen; woonplaats; resident; Dutch legal language.