zusters

Zuster is a Dutch noun meaning sister. The plural form is zusters. The term is most commonly used to refer to a nun, a woman who has taken vows and joined a religious order, and it is also used as a form of address within religious communities. The ordinary familial sister is called zus, with the plural zussen; zusters and zussen are not interchangeable.

Historically, zusters have played a central role in education, healthcare, and social care. In the Dutch-speaking world, many religious orders established schools, hospitals, and charitable institutions, and their members were active in welfare and community service. In the late 20th century, continued secularization led to declines in religious life in Western Europe; many zuster communities merged or dissolved, though some orders remain active in education, healthcare, and social services.

Etymology and usage notes: The Dutch zuster derives from Middle Dutch suster, related to other Germanic language forms, and cognate with the English word sister and the German Schwester. The term retains strong religious associations in modern Dutch and is most commonly encountered in the context of Catholic and some Protestant convents and congregations. It is less commonly used outside religious life, where zus (sister) is used for a familial relation.

In contemporary Dutch, zusters are primarily associated with religious communities. The word appears in the names of congregations and in internal and formal communications within those communities, preserving its historical function as a designation for women living a vowed religious life.