alsjeblieft Dutch · revision 37225

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1760}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˌɑ(l)ʃəˈblift/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''alsjeblieft''' (invariable; also ''asjeblieft'')^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a contraction of the phrase ⟨als 't je belieft⟩ “if it pleases you”, [[af|nl|als|het|je|believen|t1=if|t2=it|t3=you|t4=to please]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)^(WNT) The polite form [[alstublieft]] is the same phrase with [[u]] for the pronoun.^(EWN)^(Wiktionary) Both are probably loan translations of [[fr|s'il vous plaît]] (12th century), with the familiar form matching [[m|fr|s'il te plaît]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The verb [[believen]] “to please” is formed with [[be-]] from [[lief]]; it is recorded in Middle Dutch from the 14th century.^(EWN) Old Dutch had the verb [[m|odt|gelieuon]] with the same meaning.^(EWN)

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+ ==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.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001) ''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!''.^(WNT)^(EWN) The contracted spellings ''alstublieft'' and ''asjeblieft'' are first found in 1898.^(EWN)

+

+ ==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.^(WNT) In everyday speech of the 1890s ''alsjeblieft'' could also stand alone as an emphatic “yes, indeed”.^(EWN)^(WNT) Popular speech shortened the phrase further, to ''assieblief'' in 1866.^(EWN) Today the word is also used to express disbelief or irritation, as in ''nee, alsjeblieft niet!''.^(WikiWoordenboek)

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+ 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''.^(Van der Sijs 2010) Negerhollands had ''as ju belief'', Berbice Dutch ''asblifu'' and Skepi Dutch ''asublifi''.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1721 – ''Als 't u belieft'' “if it pleases you” is first recorded.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1760 – ''Als 't je belieft'', with the familiar pronoun.^(EWN)

+ * 1803 – ''Als je blieft'' when handing over a knife.^(WNT)

+ * 1866 – Popular ''assieblief''.^(EWN)

+ * 1898 – The contracted spellings ''alstublieft'' and ''asjeblieft''.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|please]]: added to a request or command to someone addressed as ''je''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # Here you are: said when handing something to someone.^(Wiktionary)^(WNT)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Expressing disbelief, dismay or irritation: ''o nee, alsjeblieft!''.^(WikiWoordenboek)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alstublieft]]

+ * [[believen]]

+ * [[fr|s'il vous plaît]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Alsjeblieft'' goes with the familiar pronoun ''je'', ''alstublieft'' with the polite ''u''.^(Wiktionary)^(EWN) The polite form is abbreviated ''a.u.b.''.^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}