Adding -erig for Mild States
To describe mild illnesses, passing moods, or behavioral tendencies, Dutch frequently uses the suffix -erig. You can think of it as the Dutch equivalent of English suffixes like -y, -ish, or -like.
By adding -erig to a noun or a verb stem, you create an adjective describing a temporary state. For instance, from the noun griep (flu) we get grieperig (flu-like), and from the verb huilen (to cry) we get huilerig (weepy).
| I always feel a bit flu-like and sleepy in the morning. | Ik voel me 's morgens altijd een beetje grieperig en slaperig. |
| The toddler is clingy and weepy; he is sick after all. | De peuter is hangerig en huilerig; hij is immers ziek. |
Physical Sensations and Moods
This suffix is incredibly versatile for describing physical symptoms, bodily sensations, and passing emotions. For example, adding -erig to the stem of zweten (to sweat) creates zweterig (sweaty), and adding it to lachen (to laugh) gives lacherig (giggly).
| My throat is tickly and the pain is hard to ignore. | Mijn keel is kriebelig en de pijn is lastig te negeren. |
| His face gets blotchy and sweaty during the training. | Zijn gezicht wordt vlekkerig en zweterig tijdens de training. |
| She was shaky and giggly after the accident. | Ze was beverig en lacherig na het ongeluk. |
Adjective Endings with -erig
Words ending in -erig behave just like any other Dutch adjective. They can be used on their own after a verb (predicatively), or placed directly before a noun (attributively).
When placed before a noun, they take the standard -e ending (except for singular het words with an indefinite article). For example, kriebelig (itchy) becomes kriebelige.
| This soup is watery and by far the worst. | Deze soep is waterig en veruit de allerslechtste. |
| This itchy sweater is hard to wash. | Deze kriebelige trui is lastig te wassen. |