sprookje
Dutch
Etymology
From sproke (obsolete variant of spreuk) + -je (“diminutive suffix”). Note that the word only occurs in this diminutive form; the word "sprook" does not exist (except as a rare back-formation for comedic effect).
Pronunciation
Noun
sprookje n (plural sprookjes)
- fairy tale
- a usually old, allegorical short story
- story presented as true that is not believable
- dream come true (very desirable life)
- Sinds mijn huwelijk is mijn leven een sprookje
- Since my marriage my life has been a dream come true.