zekerlijk

Zekerlijk is a Dutch adverb meaning certainly or indeed. In contemporary Dutch, the word is unusual and is mainly encountered in older literature, religious texts, or in stylistic, antiquated registers. Modern speakers typically use zeker or ongetwijfeld to express similar meanings.

Etymology and form: Zekerlijk derives from the adjective zeker (sure) with the historical suffix -lijk, a pattern seen in several Dutch word formations that produce adverbial or adjectival meanings. The construction resembles similar forms in other Germanic languages, such as German sicherlich.

Usage and status: Today zekerlijk is regarded as archaic or regionally marked. It can convey a solemn, elevated, or antiquated tone and is often avoided in everyday speech. You may still encounter it in poetry, classical translations, or when a text deliberately evokes older Dutch language.

Examples: In texts that preserve an older style, one might find phrases like “Zekerlijk zal hij komen” or “Het is zekerlijk dat hij gelijk heeft.” These usages illustrate the word’s emphatic certainty, but they would sound unusual in modern, neutral narration.

See also: zeker, ongetwijfeld, zekerheid.