leuk

Etymology

Uncertain, probably related to lauw (“lukewarm”); compare English luke and lukewarm.^[1] The earliest attestations refer to the sense of "lukewarm", other senses are later semantic developments. The sense "calm, level-headed" is still visible in some derived terms, such as leukweg, leukjes and doodleuk.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /løːk/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -øːk

Adjective

leuk (comparative leuker, superlative leukst)

1. nice, pleasant, enjoyable

   Synonyms: aardig, prettig

   We hebben een leuke vakantie gehad. ― We had a nice vacation.

   Dit is het leukste spel. ― This is the most enjoyable game.

2. attractive

   Synonym: aantrekkelijk

   Vind je haar leuk? ― Do you find her attractive?

3. (obsolete) calm, level-headed

   Hij was een leuke man. ― He was a level-headed man.

4. (obsolete) lukewarm

   Synonym: lauw

   Het water was leuk. ― The water was lukewarm.

References

Alternative forms

• leuke, luk, luke, louke, lheuk

Etymology

From Old English *hlēoc. See modern lukewarm.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /li̯uk/

Adjective

leuk

1. lukewarm; having medium warmth
2. (figurative) unenthusiastic, lazy
3. (figurative) weak, tired

Noun

leuk (plural leuks)

1. Alternative form of luik

Verb

leuk (third-person singular simple present leuks, present participle leukin, simple past leukit, past participle leukit)

1. Alternative form of luik