kleuter

Dutch

Etymology

16th century, of uncertain origin. The two most widely supported hypotheses are:

• regional byform of *kloter, extension of kloot (“ball, lump”), from the general association of children with thickish, roundish objects;
• deverbal from kleuteren, a byform of klateren, kletteren (“to clatter”), from the noise that children tend to make.

Compare also peuter (“toddler”), which however is more recent (19th c.) and itself influenced by kleuter.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkløː.tər/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: kleu‧ter
• Rhymes: -øːtər
• Homophone: Kleuter

Noun

kleuter m (plural kleuters, diminutive kleutertje n)

1. a child between the ages of four and seven years (before the onset of concrete operational thought)
2. (dated, specifically) a kindergartner
3. (archaic) a minor of any age, though chiefly up to 10 years
4. (figurative) an adult or older child who behaves very immaturely

Derived terms

• kleuterachtig
• kleuterbad
• kleuterjuf
• kleuterklas
• kleuterleider
• kleuterleidster
• kleutermeester
• kleuteronderwijs
• kleuterschool
• verkleuteren

Further reading

• WNT - Kleuter