Etymologically
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alsjeblieft

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Pronunciation

  • /ˌɑ(l)ʃəˈblift/[1]

Forms

alsjeblieft (invariable; also asjeblieft)[1]

Etymology

It is a contraction of the phrase ⟨als 't je belieft⟩ “if it pleases you”, from Dutch als (“if”) + het (“it”) + je (“you”) + believen (“to please”).[2][1][3] The polite form alstublieft is the same phrase with u for the pronoun.[2][1] Both are probably loan translations of French s'il vous plaît (12th century), with the familiar form matching s'il te plaît.[2][1]

The verb believen “to please” is formed with be- from lief; it is recorded in Middle Dutch from the 14th century.[2] Old Dutch had the verb gelieuon with the same meaning.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The full phrase als 't u belieft “if it pleases you” is found in 1721, and als 't je belieft, with the familiar pronoun, in 1760.[2][4] Als je blieft said when handing something over is recorded in 1803, when Jan, asked to fetch a knife, hands it over with Als je blieft mijnheer!.[3][2] The contracted spellings alstublieft and asjeblieft are first found in 1898.[2]

Semantic evolution

The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal (1898) distinguishes the literal sense “if you think fit”, a polite urging with a request, a formula for accepting an offer, and the words said when handing something over.[3] In everyday speech of the 1890s alsjeblieft could also stand alone as an emphatic “yes, indeed”.[2][3] Popular speech shortened the phrase further, to assieblief in 1866.[2] Today the word is also used to express disbelief or irritation, as in nee, alsjeblieft niet!.[5]

The formula spread with Dutch speakers: West Frisian has asjeblyft, German dialects near the border used forms like asjeblieft and asteblief, and through Afrikaans South African English has asseblief.[6] Negerhollands had as ju belief, Berbice Dutch asblifu and Skepi Dutch asublifi.[6][1]

Timeline

  • 1721 – Als 't u belieft “if it pleases you” is first recorded.[2][4]
  • 1760 – Als 't je belieft, with the familiar pronoun.[2]
  • 1803 – Als je blieft when handing over a knife.[3]
  • 1866 – Popular assieblief.[2]
  • 1898 – The contracted spellings alstublieft and asjeblieft.[2]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. please: added to a request or command to someone addressed as je.[7][1][5]
  2. Here you are: said when handing something to someone.[1][3]
  3. (colloquial) Expressing disbelief, dismay or irritation: o nee, alsjeblieft!.[5]
  • alstublieft
  • believen
  • French s'il vous plaît

Usage notes

Alsjeblieft goes with the familiar pronoun je, alstublieft with the polite u.[1][2] The polite form is abbreviated a.u.b..[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
  3. ^ a b c d e f Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  4. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  5. ^ a b c WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
  6. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  7. ^ Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers