zacht
/zɑxt/
adjective
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*samftijaz — gentle, soft
Overview
Meaning Now
- soft, pleasant to the touch or mild in nature
- gentle or temperate, often referring to weather, sounds, or character
Literal older meaning
soft
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Middle Dutch → Dutch
Earliest form
sachte
Earliest period
Middle Dutch (circa 13th century)
Journey
The word stems from a common Germanic root associated with being smooth or pleasant. It shares a deep lineage with the English word 'soft', reflecting the historical sound shifts between Dutch and English.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*samftijaz
“gentle, soft”
- Old Dutch
safti
“soft”
- Middle Dutch
sachte
“soft, mild”
development of the velar fricative
- Modern Dutch
zacht
“soft, mild”
voicing of the initial fricative
Connections
Word parts
zacht
root
soft
Explore next
Related to zacht
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.