Learn Dutch: Het geklaag wordt steeds irritanter. - The complaining becomes more and more irritating.

It is made by adding the prefix ge- to the stem of the verb klagen (to complain). In Dutch, this structure (ge- + verb stem) is used to create a noun that describes an action happening continuously, often in a way that the speaker finds annoying or excessive. So, geklaag translates to complaining or whining.

Will nouns made with this ge- prefix always use het?

Yes! Any noun formed from a verb stem with the prefix ge- to express a continuous or irritating action is a neuter noun, which means it will always take the definite article het.

Why is there a double 'a' in geklaag when the verb is klagen?

This is a great reminder of Dutch spelling rules for long vowels. In the infinitive kla-gen, the 'a' is in an open syllable, so a single 'a' makes a long sound. When you isolate the stem (klaag), the syllable is closed by the 'g'. To keep that same long 'a' sound in geklaag, you must double the vowel.

Does steeds irritanter literally mean 'more and more irritating'?