The Dutch word gering is a sophisticated adjective that English speakers primarily translate as 'small', 'slight', 'minor', or 'negligible'. However, unlike the common word 'klein', which often refers to physical dimensions like the size of a box or a person's height, gering is almost exclusively used to describe abstract quantities, intensities, amounts, or levels of importance. When you use this word, you are often making a qualitative judgment about the lack of significance or the limited nature of something. It is a staple of formal Dutch, appearing frequently in news reports, scientific journals, financial summaries, and professional correspondence.
- Semantic Range
- The term covers anything from a 'slight chance' to a 'low price'. It suggests that the quantity is not just small, but perhaps lower than expected or insignificant in the grander scheme of things.
De kans op regen is vandaag zeer gering.
In a professional context, you might hear a manager say that the 'belangstelling' (interest) for a new project is gering. This doesn't just mean a few people are interested; it carries a tone of disappointment or a factual observation that the interest is insufficient. It is this nuance of 'limited sufficiency' that makes the word so useful at the B2 level and above. It allows a speaker to be precise without being overly blunt. For instance, saying a budget is 'klein' sounds simple, but saying the budget is 'gering' sounds like a professional assessment of its limitations.
Furthermore, gering is frequently used in fixed expressions. One of the most common is 'niet de geringste', which means 'not the slightest'. If you say, 'Ik heb niet de geringste twijfel' (I don't have the slightest doubt), you are using the word to emphasize a complete lack of something. This superlative usage is very common in Dutch rhetoric and helps you sound more like a native speaker who understands emphasis.
Hij toonde niet de geringste interesse in het voorstel.
- Register
- Formal and Written. While you might use it in daily speech, it is most at home in situations requiring precision and professional distance.
In summary, gering is your go-to word for 'small' when you are talking about percentages, probabilities, interest levels, amounts of money, or importance. It elevates your Dutch from basic descriptions to nuanced analysis. By mastering this word, you move away from the child-like 'klein' and into the territory of adult, professional communication where degrees of magnitude are carefully weighed and expressed.
De kosten voor dit project zijn relatief gering.
- Usage in Data
- Often used with words like 'omvang' (size/scale), 'bedrag' (amount), and 'aantal' (number) to indicate that data points are low.
De invloed van deze wet is in de praktijk gering.
Ondanks de geringe middelen wist zij toch te slagen.
Using gering correctly requires an understanding of Dutch adjective inflection and the specific nouns it pairs with. As an adjective, it follows the standard rules: it gets an '-e' ending when it precedes a 'de-word' or a plural noun, or when it follows 'het' in a definite construction. For example, 'de geringe kans' (the slight chance) or 'geringe bedragen' (small amounts). However, when used predicatively (after a verb like 'zijn'), it remains gering. For example, 'De kans is gering' (The chance is slight).
- Grammar Rule
- Inflected: geringe (before nouns). Uninflected: gering (predicative or before 'het-nouns' with 'een').
Een gering aantal mensen kwam opdagen.
One of the most powerful ways to use gering is in the comparative and superlative forms: geringer (smaller/lesser) and geringst (smallest/least). Unlike 'kleiner', geringer is used to compare degrees of abstract concepts. If you are discussing two risks, you would say 'Het risico bij plan A is geringer dan bij plan B'. This sounds much more precise and professional than using 'kleiner'. The superlative 'geringst' is almost always used with the definite article 'het' or in the phrase 'niet de geringste'.
In sentence structure, gering often appears in 'hoewel' (although) or 'ondanks' (despite) clauses to contrast a small cause with a large effect. For example: 'Ondanks de geringe voorbereiding, haalde hij een goed cijfer' (Despite the minimal preparation, he got a good grade). This usage highlights the contrast between the 'smallness' of the effort and the 'largeness' of the result. It is a common rhetorical device in Dutch writing.
De verschillen tussen de twee modellen zijn gering.
- Collocation Focus
- Pair 'gering' with 'kans' (chance), 'hoeveelheid' (amount), 'belang' (importance), and 'omvang' (scale).
When describing prices or costs, gering suggests that the amount is low or affordable. 'Tegen een geringe vergoeding' (for a small fee) is a very common phrase in services and contracts. It sounds more polite and less commercial than 'voor weinig geld'. It implies that the fee is just a formality or a minor contribution rather than a significant payment.
U kunt de app downloaden tegen een geringe betaling.
De kans dat het plan slaagt, is helaas gering.
- Comparative Logic
- Use 'geringer' when comparing levels of intensity, such as 'geringer risico' (lower risk) or 'geringer belang' (lesser importance).
De schade bleek gelukkig gering te zijn na de storm.
Er was slechts een geringe meerderheid voor het voorstel.
If you tune into the Dutch news program 'NOS Journaal' or read a newspaper like 'NRC' or 'De Volkskrant', you will encounter gering almost daily. It is the language of reporting and analysis. For instance, a weather forecaster might say that the 'kans op neerslag' is gering. This sounds more authoritative than saying 'er is bijna geen regen'. It provides a specific, measured quality to the forecast that viewers expect from professional broadcasting.
- News Context
- Reporting on voter turnout, economic growth, or scientific findings often uses 'gering' to describe low figures.
De opkomst bij de verkiezingen was dit jaar opvallend gering.
In the business world, gering is used in annual reports and during meetings to discuss margins, risks, and growth. A financial analyst might describe a company's profit growth as gering, which is a polite but firm way of saying it was disappointing. Similarly, in legal documents, you might see references to 'geringe nalatigheid' (slight negligence). Here, the word has specific legal weight, distinguishing a minor mistake from a major one. Understanding this word is therefore essential for anyone working in a Dutch-speaking professional environment.
You will also find gering in academic settings. Research papers often conclude that the 'correlatie' between two variables is gering. In this context, it means 'statistically insignificant' or 'very weak'. Students are expected to use such vocabulary to demonstrate their command of academic Dutch. If a student writes 'de invloed is klein', it's okay, but 'de invloed is gering' sounds like the work of a serious scholar.
Wetenschappelijk onderzoek toont aan dat het effect gering is.
- Daily Life
- While less common in casual banter, you'll see it on signs (e.g., 'geringe doorrijhoogte' for low clearance) or in service descriptions.
Finally, in literature and high-end journalism, gering is used to create a sense of understatement. The Dutch phrase 'geen geringe prestatie' (no small feat) is a classic example of litotes—a figure of speech where an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary. When a Dutch person says your achievement is 'geen geringe prestatie', they are actually giving you a very high compliment. It means it was a significant and impressive accomplishment.
Het winnen van de marathon is geen geringe opgave.
De kans op een succesvolle afloop lijkt mij gering.
- Public Safety
- You might see 'geringe kans op lawines' (slight chance of avalanches) in mountain reports.
Zijn kennis van de Franse taal is helaas zeer gering.
De politieke steun voor dit plan bleek gering.
One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using gering to describe physical size. In English, 'small' works for both a 'small box' and a 'small chance'. In Dutch, these are strictly separated. You cannot say 'een geringe doos' (a slight box); you must say 'een kleine doos'. Gering is for abstract concepts, measurements, and values. If you can touch it or see its physical boundaries, 'klein' is almost always the better choice. Think of gering as 'slight' or 'minimal' rather than 'small' in the sense of 'tiny'.
- Mistake #1: Physical Size
- Using 'gering' for people, buildings, or objects. Correct: 'een kleine man'. Incorrect: 'een geringe man'.
Fout: Dat is een gering huis. Goed: Dat is een klein huis.
Another common error is confusing gering with 'weinig' (few/little). While they are related, 'weinig' is an adverb or a quantifier, whereas gering is a descriptive adjective. You say 'Ik heb weinig tijd' (I have little time), but you describe the amount of time as 'gering'. For example: 'De beschikbare tijd is gering'. Notice how gering follows the noun or describes the quality of the noun, while 'weinig' simply counts it. Using gering where 'weinig' belongs can make your Dutch sound overly stiff or grammatically incorrect.
Learners also sometimes struggle with the superlative form 'geringst'. They might try to use 'minst' (least) in its place. While 'minst' is the superlative of 'weinig', 'geringst' is the superlative of gering. In the phrase 'niet de geringste twijfel', you cannot substitute 'minste' without changing the idiomatic weight of the sentence. 'Niet de minste twijfel' is possible, but 'geringste' is more emphatic and formal. Stick to 'geringste' when you want to sound more precise in your denials or descriptions of minimal levels.
Fout: Ik heb de geringste boeken. Goed: Ik heb de minste boeken.
- Mistake #2: Quantifying Nouns
- Don't use 'geringste' to mean 'the fewest number of items'. Use 'minste' for counting.
Finally, be careful with the word 'klein' in academic writing. While not 'wrong', overusing 'klein' can make your writing feel repetitive and basic. The mistake here is a 'missed opportunity' rather than a grammatical error. By failing to use gering when discussing percentages, risks, or impacts, you fail to signal that you are operating at a B2/C1 level of Dutch proficiency. Transitioning from 'klein' to gering is a key step in reaching fluency.
Beter: De impact van de maatregel was gering. (Instead of 'klein').
Let op: 'Geringe' eindigt altijd op een -e voor een zelfstandig naamwoord, behalve bij het-woorden met 'een'.
- Pronunciation Note
- The 'g' is the hard Dutch 'g'. The 'ring' sounds like the English word 'ring'. Don't let the 'e' at the end of 'geringe' become too long; it's a short schwa sound.
Hij heeft een geringe voorsprong op zijn concurrent.
De kans op succes is niet gering, maar ook niet groot.
To truly master Dutch, you need to know when to use gering and when to reach for one of its synonyms. The most common alternative is 'klein', but as we've discussed, this is more for physical size. Another close relative is 'beperkt' (limited). While gering describes the size of the amount, 'beperkt' describes the boundaries or constraints. For example, 'een geringe keuze' means there aren't many options, while 'een beperkte keuze' means the options are restricted by some rule or situation. Often they are interchangeable, but 'beperkt' sounds slightly more active.
- Comparison: Gering vs. Beperkt
- 'Gering' focuses on the small quantity itself. 'Beperkt' focuses on the fact that it is not more than it is.
De voorraad is gering (there isn't much). De voorraad is beperkt (it is capped/limited).
If you want to describe something even smaller than gering, you can use 'miniem' (minute/tiny) or 'verwaarloosbaar' (negligible). 'Miniem' is perfect for very small differences or amounts that are almost invisible. 'Verwaarloosbaar' is an academic term used when something is so small it doesn't even need to be considered. For example, 'Het risico is verwaarloosbaar' means you can safely ignore it. Gering, on the other hand, implies the amount is small but still exists and might matter.
When talking about money or quality in a negative way, you might use 'schamel' (paltry/meager) or 'mager' (lean/thin). 'Een schamel loon' is a very low wage that is barely enough to live on. It carries a sense of pity or social criticism that gering does not. Gering is neutral and objective; 'schamel' is emotional. Similarly, 'een mager resultaat' (a meager result) suggests that the outcome was unsatisfying or thin, often used in sports or business to express disappointment.
Het verschil in tijd was miniem, slechts een fractie van een seconde.
- Comparison: Gering vs. Onbeduidend
- 'Gering' is a factual statement about size. 'Onbeduidend' is a judgment that it doesn't matter at all.
In formal settings, you might also encounter 'incidenteel' (occasional/incidental). While not a direct synonym for 'small', it is often used to describe 'geringe' occurrences that happen once in a while. Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the exact 'flavor' of smallness you wish to convey, making your Dutch much more expressive and precise.
De overlast voor de buurt is verwaarloosbaar.
Hij moest rondkomen van een schamel pensioen.
- Formal Alternatives
- Luttel (very formal/archaic for small), Bescheiden (modest), Subtiel (subtle).
De winstmarges in deze sector zijn over het algemeen gering.
Er is een geringe kans dat de vergadering wordt verzet.
Ejemplos por nivel
De kans op zon is gering.
The chance of sun is slight.
Gering is used here after the verb 'is', so it has no -e.
Ik heb een gering aantal boeken.
I have a small number of books.
Geringe would be used if the noun was plural without 'aantal', but 'aantal' is a het-word.
De prijs voor de koffie is gering.
The price for the coffee is low.
Predicative use of the adjective.
Er is geringe belangstelling voor de film.
There is little interest in the film.
Belangstelling is a de-word, so we add -e to gering.
De schade aan de fiets was gering.
The damage to the bike was minor.
Describes an abstract quality (damage).
Hij heeft geringe honger.
He has a little hunger.
Geringe used before a de-word (honger).
Het verschil is gering.
The difference is small.
Used to describe an abstract concept (difference).
Wij hebben geringe tijd.
We have little time.
Tijd is a de-word.
Er was een geringe opkomst bij de vergadering.
There was a low turnout at the meeting.
Opkomst is a de-word.
De kosten voor het parkeren zijn gering.
The costs for parking are low.
Plural subject, but adjective is predicative.
Hij spreekt met een geringe stem.
He speaks with a slight voice.
Stem is a de-word.
De kans op een ongeluk is gering.
The chance of an accident is slight.
Kans is a de-word.
Zij heeft een geringe voorsprong.
She has a slight lead.
Voorsprong is a de-word.
De invloed van de leraar was gering.
The influence of the teacher was minor.
Invloed is a de-word.
Het bedrag op de rekening is gering.
The amount on the account is small.
Bedrag is a het-word.
Er is een geringe kans op onweer.
There is a slight chance of a thunderstorm.
Standard collocation: geringe kans.
Ondanks de geringe voorbereiding slaagde hij.
Despite the minimal preparation, he passed.
Contrastive use with 'ondanks'.
De geringe omvang van het bedrijf is een voordeel.
The small scale of the company is an advantage.
Omvang is a de-word.
Er zijn slechts geringe wijzigingen aangebracht.
Only minor changes have been made.
Plural noun 'wijzigingen'.
De belangstelling voor de nieuwe wet was gering.
The interest in the new law was slight.
Formal context.
Hij toonde een geringe bereidheid om te helpen.
He showed a slight willingness to help.
Bereidheid is a de-word.
De kans op herstel wordt als gering ingeschat.
The chance of recovery is estimated to be slight.
Professional medical/legal context.
Het risico voor de beleggers is relatief gering.
The risk for the investors is relatively small.
Financial context.
Zij kregen een geringe vergoeding voor hun werk.
They received a small compensation for their work.
Vergoeding is a de-word.
De verschillen tussen de groepen zijn statistisch gering.
The differences between the groups are statistically minor.
Academic usage.
Ik heb niet de geringste behoefte aan kritiek.
I don't have the slightest need for criticism.
Idiomatic use of 'niet de geringste'.
De politieke steun voor de motie bleek gering.
Political support for the motion proved to be slight.
Political register.
Er is een geringer risico bij deze nieuwe methode.
There is a lesser risk with this new method.
Comparative form 'geringer'.
De geringe diepte van het water maakt varen lastig.
The shallow depth of the water makes sailing difficult.
Diepte is a de-word.
Het effect van de maatregel was helaas geringer dan verwacht.
The effect of the measure was unfortunately less than expected.
Comparative usage.
Men spreekt hier van een geringe mate van onzekerheid.
They speak here of a slight degree of uncertainty.
Formal phrase: 'geringe mate van'.
De kosten zijn gering in vergelijking met de baten.
The costs are small compared to the benefits.
Economic comparison.
Het was geen geringe prestatie om de top te bereiken.
It was no small feat to reach the top.
Litotes (understatement for emphasis).
Hij kon niet de geringste twijfel over zijn motieven verdragen.
He could not tolerate the slightest doubt about his motives.
Superlative idiom.
De correlatie tussen deze twee variabelen is uiterst gering.
The correlation between these two variables is extremely slight.
Scientific register.
De geringe opkomst ondermijnt de legitimiteit van de uitslag.
The low turnout undermines the legitimacy of the result.
Complex political analysis.
Er bestaat een geringe kans dat het virus muteert.
There is a slight chance that the virus will mutate.
Scientific probability.
De nuances in zijn betoog waren voor velen te gering.
The nuances in his argument were too subtle for many.
Abstract usage for 'subtle'.
Ondanks geringe middelen wist het museum een topcollectie op te bouwen.
Despite limited means, the museum managed to build a top collection.
Professional reporting.
De geringste aanwijzing van fraude wordt direct onderzocht.
The slightest indication of fraud is investigated immediately.
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aandacht
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aandachtig
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aandrang
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aaneensluiten
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