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Diminutive - VerkleinwoordIntroductionIn Dutch, a suffix can be added to the noun to indicate that the object in question is of a relatively small size. This suffix is usually –je, but it can take other forms as well. A noun to which this suffix has been added is called a diminutive. Diminutives are very popular in the Dutch language (see use).
Formation of the diminutiveThe basic suffix of the diminutive is -je. However, under certain circumstances this form changes. These circumstances are connected with the word ending of the noun in question. The following are the most important rules for the formation of the Dutch diminutive:
2. -pje is used if the noun ends in /m/ preceded by a long vowel, a diphthong, /l/, /r/ or /¶/:
3. -tje is used if the noun ends in /n/, /l/, /r/ or /w/ preceded by a long vowel, a diphthong or /¶/:
and -tje is used if the noun ends in a long vowel, a diphthong or /¶/: :
4. -etje is used if the noun ends in /m/, /n/, /ng/, /l/ or /r/ preceded by a short vowel:
Mind the spelling rules for doubling the end consonant after a short vowel. A singular diminutive is always a neuter noun, whereas the plural is alwasy a de-word, e.g. de film, het filmpje, de filmpjes. Note that the plural of a diminutive always ends in –s: plakjes, woninkjes, raampjes, baantjes, spaatjes, grammetjes. UseThe diminutive is not only used to indicate small size, but also affection and affinity. Thus, someone can refer to a grown man as ‘mijn broertje' (literally ‘my little brother'), or a normal sized car as ‘een lekker autootje' (literally ‘a nice little car'). Indeed, the word ‘kopje' (‘small cup') is almost exclusively used in this way: you hardly ever hear someone talking about ‘een kop koffie'.
On the other hand, diminutives can also be used in a derogative manner: Je bent maar een studentje! You are only a (little) student! Some diminutives have no non-diminutive counterpart:
Sometimes the diminutive is used with a specific meaning which does not quite correspond with the non-diminutive:
Some nouns have two diminutive forms with two distinctive meanings, e.g. bloem has the diminutives bloempje, for ‘small flower', and bloemetje which, in addition to the meaning ‘small flower' is also used for ‘bunch of flowers'. A very colloquial use of the diminutive is to substitute the ending –je for –ie in spoken Dutch:
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