Etymologically
Log in

dat

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 21 October 2026 at 14:36. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

Forms

dat (neuter singular of the pronoun die; also a conjunction)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch dat, inherited from Old Dutch that, inherited from Proto-Germanic *þat, the nominative and accusative neuter singular of the demonstrative pronoun die.[2][1][3] The same form is Old Saxon that, Old High German daz (modern German das and dass), Old Frisian thet, Old English þæt (modern English that), Old Norse þat and Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌰 (þata).[2][4][5] The Gothic form differs from the others by an added particle.[4][6]

Outside Germanic it matches Ancient Greek τό (tó), Latin istud, Sanskrit तद् (tád) and Old Church Slavonic то (to), from Proto-Indo-European *tód, the neuter nominative and accusative of the pronominal stem Proto-Indo-European *to-.[2][4][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Old Dutch that is recorded in the 10th-century Wachtendonck Psalms both as a pronoun and as a conjunction meaning “so that”.[2][8] One line reads Ik uuanda that ik it kende, that ar beit ist furi mi, “I thought that I knew it, that is toil before me”.[9] Middle Dutch dat as a conjunction meaning “that, so that, because” is found from about 1240.[2]

Semantic evolution

The pronoun came into use as a conjunction early in all the West Germanic languages, while Gothic used a separate conjunction, Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌴𐌹 (þatei).[2][6] From the 16th century German has spelled the pronoun das and the conjunction daß (now dass), an artificial distinction.[2] In Dutch, dat also served as the neuter definite article until the weakened form het replaced it.[10][2]

The conjunction forms many compound conjunctions, such as omdat, nadat and zodat.[10][1] As a noun dat could mean a trifle, in the phrase dit of dat, and also a fault or blemish (1612) and a pimple (1600).[10]

Dutch passed the word on: Negerhollands dat, da, Berbice Dutch and Sranan dati, and possibly Swedish datt.[11]

Timeline

  • 901–1000 – Old Dutch that is recorded as a pronoun and as a conjunction in the Wachtendonck Psalms.[2][8]
  • c. 1240 – Middle Dutch dat as a conjunction appears.[2]
  • 1557 – The conjunction introduces a clause in a quotation in the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal.[10]
  • 1600 – Datten, “pimples”, is recorded.[10]
  • 1625 – Geen dit of dat, “no trifle”, is recorded.[10]

Meanings

Pronoun

  1. that: a demonstrative pointing at something not close to the speaker.[12][1]
  2. That same thing, the one just mentioned.[1]
  3. which, that: a relative pronoun after neuter nouns: het boek dat ik las, “the book that I read”.[12][1]

Conjunction

  1. That: introducing a subordinate clause: ik weet dat het klopt, “I know that it is right”.[12][1]
  2. Because, so that, expressing a reason or a result.[12]
  3. (informal) Expressing surprise or annoyance: dat hij dat durft!, “to think he dares to!”.[12]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. ^ Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
  4. ^ a b c Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  7. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum
  8. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  9. ^ Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
  10. ^ 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
  11. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  12. ^ a b c d e Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers