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afwijken

B1 verb 10 min read

afwijken

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips afwijken in 30 Seconds

Explanation afwijken in your Level:

In level A1, you probably won't use 'afwijken' yet because it is a bit complex. Instead, you use 'anders' (different) or 'niet hetzelfde' (not the same). For example, instead of saying 'The price deviates,' an A1 learner says 'De prijs is anders.' However, it is good to know that 'af' means 'off' and 'wijken' is an old word for moving. So, 'afwijken' is 'moving off' a path. If you see this word, just think: 'It is different from what we expected.' Focus on simple words first, but remember that Dutch has special verbs like this that split into two parts.

At the A2 level, you start to learn separable verbs (scheidbare werkwoorden) like 'opstaan' or 'schoonmaken'. 'Afwijken' works the same way. You might hear it when people talk about directions or rules. 'Je mag niet afwijken' means 'You are not allowed to go away from the rule.' Even if you don't use it in your own speaking yet, you should recognize it in reading. Remember the past tense is 'week af' and it uses 'is' in the perfect tense: 'Het is afgeweken.' Think of it as 'to go a different way.'

This is the level where 'afwijken' becomes very useful. You are now expected to describe problems, plans, and opinions in more detail. You use 'afwijken van' to show that something is not following the standard. For example: 'De planning wijkt af van de realiteit' (The schedule deviates from reality). You should be comfortable with the word order: 'af' goes to the end in a normal sentence. You also use it for social topics, like when someone's behavior is a bit different from what is normal. It is a very common word in Dutch work environments and schools.

At B2, you use 'afwijken' with more precision. You combine it with adverbs like 'structureel' (structurally), 'marginaal' (marginally), or 'significant' (significantly). You understand that 'afwijken' is the professional way to say something is different. In a business report, you wouldn't just say 'the numbers are different,' you would say 'de cijfers wijken af van de prognose.' You also recognize the noun 'afwijking' (deviation/abnormality) and the adjective 'afwijkend'. You can use the verb in complex sentences with 'om... te', like 'Het is noodzakelijk om van de standaardprocedure af te wijken.'

For C1 learners, 'afwijken' is a versatile tool for nuanced argumentation. You use it metaphorically to discuss philosophy, politics, or abstract theories. You might talk about 'afwijken van de gebaande paden' (deviating from the beaten paths) to describe innovation. You are also aware of very specific synonyms like 'divergeren' or 'discrepantie vertonen'. You can handle the verb in all its forms, including the past subjunctive (though rare) or in complex passive constructions. You use it to contrast subtle differences between two highly similar concepts or policies.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native feel for the 'flavor' of 'afwijken'. You know exactly when it sounds too clinical and when it sounds perfectly professional. You can use it in idiomatic ways and understand its history. You might use it in legal or highly technical Dutch where precision is vital—for instance, explaining how a specific case 'afwijkt' from established jurisprudence. You can play with the word in creative writing to describe a character who refuses to conform, using the verb to create a specific atmosphere of non-conformity or clinical observation.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

afwijken in 30 Seconds

Means to deviate or differ from a norm or plan.
A separable verb (af + wijken) using 'is' in the perfect tense.
Commonly used in professional, scientific, and social contexts.
Usually followed by the preposition 'van' (from).

The Dutch verb afwijken is a foundational term for anyone moving beyond basic Dutch into the intermediate (B1) level. At its core, it describes the act of moving away from a set path, a standard, a norm, or a predetermined plan. In English, we often translate it as 'to deviate,' 'to differ,' or 'to diverge.' Understanding this word requires grasping both its physical meaning—like a road that turns away from a straight line—and its more frequent abstract meanings, such as a result that differs from what was expected in a scientific experiment or a person whose behavior doesn't match social expectations.

The Literal Path: In a physical sense, afwijken is used when something changes direction. If you are hiking in the Veluwe and the path suddenly veers left while your map says to go straight, the path is 'afwijken' from the original direction. It suggests a departure from a linear trajectory.

De resultaten van het onderzoek wijken sterk af van onze eerdere voorspellingen.

The Abstract Standard: Most commonly, you will hear this in professional or academic contexts. When a budget is higher than planned, it 'wijkt af' from the budget. When a child's growth pattern is different from the average, it 'wijkt af' from the norm. It is a neutral word, though context determines if the deviation is positive or negative.

Hij durft in zijn kledingstijl bewust af te wijken van de massa.

Dutch culture often values 'doe maar gewoon' (just act normal), so the word afwijken carries a certain weight. To 'afwijken van de norm' can imply being a trendsetter, but it can also imply an error or a defect, depending on whether you are talking about art or engineering. In statistics, you will frequently encounter the term 'standaardafwijking,' which is the direct translation of 'standard deviation.' This highlights the word's precision in technical Dutch.

Social and Personal Use: On a personal level, someone might say, 'Ik wil niet van mijn principes afwijken' (I don't want to deviate from my principles). Here, the word takes on a moral quality, suggesting steadfastness. If you refuse to change your mind despite pressure, you are refusing to 'afwijken'.

We mogen in dit geval absoluut niet afwijken van de veiligheidsprotocollen.

Waarom wijkt jouw mening zo sterk af van die van de rest?

Using afwijken correctly requires a solid understanding of Dutch sentence structure, specifically the behavior of separable verbs (scheidbare werkwoorden). In a simple present tense sentence, the prefix 'af' moves to the end. For example: 'De koers wijkt een beetje af.' When you add a prepositional phrase, such as 'van de norm,' the 'af' still typically stays at the end or just before the prepositional cluster in some contexts, but usually, it follows the pattern: [Verb] ... [af].

Separable Mechanics: In the past tense, it becomes 'week af' (singular) or 'weken af' (plural). Example: 'Gisteren week de temperatuur af van het gemiddelde.' Notice how the 'af' remains separated. In the perfect tense, the 'ge-' is sandwiched between the prefix and the stem: 'is afgeweken'.

Het nieuwe model wijkt op verschillende punten af van het oude ontwerp.

One of the most common constructions is afwijken van. You deviate *from* something. This 'van' is almost always present when you specify the standard or the path being left. 'Hij wijkt af van de regels' (He deviates from the rules). Without the 'van', the verb can stand alone to indicate that something is just 'different' or 'atypical' in general: 'Zijn gedrag wijkt af.'

The Infinitive with 'te': When using 'afwijken' with 'te' (to deviate), the 'te' goes in the middle: 'Het is verboden om van de route af te wijken.' This is a classic trap for English speakers who want to say 'te afwijken'. Always split the separable verb with 'te'.

Zij besloten om niet van hun oorspronkelijke plan af te wijken, ondanks de kritiek.

When describing how much something deviates, we use adverbs like 'sterk' (strongly), 'enigszins' (somewhat), or 'nauwelijks' (hardly). 'De werkelijkheid wijkt sterk af van de theorie' (Reality deviates strongly from the theory). This is a very common way to express discrepancy in Dutch academic and business writing.

De kleur van de verf wijkt een klein beetje af van wat op de verpakking staat.

In hoeverre wijkt dit voorstel af van de huidige wetgeving?

You will encounter afwijken in a variety of settings, ranging from the evening news to a technical manual. It is not a slang word, but it is not overly formal either—it is the standard way to express the concept of difference or deviation. If you are listening to the weather report, the meteorologist might say that the temperature 'wijkt af' from the seasonal average. In a business meeting, a manager might ask why the quarterly figures 'afwijken' from the forecast.

The News and Media: Journalists often use this word when discussing politics or social trends. For example, 'De nieuwe wet wijkt op cruciale punten af van het coalitieakkoord.' This suggests a tension or a change in direction that is noteworthy for the public.

De koers van de aandelen week af van de algemene trend op de beurs.

In the medical and psychological fields, afwijken is used to describe symptoms or developmental milestones. A doctor might mention an 'afwijkend resultaat' (a deviating/abnormal result) in a blood test. While 'abnormaal' exists in Dutch, 'afwijkend' is often preferred in clinical settings because it sounds more objective and less judgmental.

Navigation and Travel: If you are using a GPS in the Netherlands, and you take a wrong turn, the system might not use 'afwijken' directly, but a human guide would. 'We zijn van de route afgeweken door de wegwerkzaamheden' (We deviated from the route due to roadworks).

Tijdens de storm week het schip ver af van zijn koers.

In creative industries, 'afwijken' is often seen as a positive. An architect might be praised because their design 'wijkt af van de traditionele bouwstijl.' Here, the deviation is synonymous with innovation and originality. It shows that the word's connotation is highly dependent on what is being deviated from—rules (bad) vs. boring standards (good).

Kunstenaars proberen vaak af te wijken van de gebaande paden om iets nieuws te creëren.

Waarom wijken deze cijfers zo erg af van die van vorig jaar?

One of the primary hurdles for learners is the auxiliary verb used in the perfect tense. Many English speakers instinctively want to use 'hebben' (to have) because they think of 'deviating' as an action. However, in Dutch, afwijken always uses zijn (to be). Saying 'Ik heb afgeweken' is a classic mistake; the correct form is 'Ik ben afgeweken'. This is because the verb implies a transition or a movement away from a point.

Preposition Confusion: Another frequent error is using the wrong preposition. In English, we deviate 'from'. In Dutch, it is also 'van', which is convenient. However, some learners try to use 'met' or 'tot' by mistake. Always remember: afwijken + van.

Fout: De resultaten hebben afgeweken van de norm.
Goed: De resultaten zijn afgeweken van de norm.

The separable nature of the verb causes the most 'word order' headaches. In a main clause, 'af' must go to the end. Learners often forget this and keep 'afwijken' together. For instance, 'Het wijkt af' is correct, but learners often say 'Het afwijkt'. Even more complex is the placement of 'af' when there are other elements in the sentence. It should usually come after the object but before any prepositional phrases that aren't 'van...'.

Confusing with 'Verschillen': Learners often use 'verschillen' (to differ) and 'afwijken' interchangeably. While similar, they aren't identical. 'Verschillen' is a general comparison between two things. 'Afwijken' implies there is a standard, a path, or a norm that is being left behind. If two friends have different opinions, they 'verschillen van mening'. If one friend's opinion is totally outside the social norm, it 'wijkt af'.

Fout: Ik wil niet te afwijken van het plan.
Goed: Ik wil niet van het plan af te wijken.

Finally, watch out for the adjective form: afwijkend. It is often used where English would use 'abnormal' or 'deviant'. However, using the verb 'afwijken' when you should use the adjective 'afwijkend' (or vice versa) can make a sentence feel clunky. 'Hij heeft een afwijkende mening' (He has a deviating opinion) is often smoother than 'Zijn mening wijkt af'.

Let op de spelling: wijkt (stam + t) maar week (verleden tijd).

To truly master afwijken, you need to know its 'neighbors'—words that share a similar meaning but have different nuances or registers. Depending on whether you are writing a formal report or chatting with a friend, you might choose a different term.

Verschillen vs. Afwijken: Verschillen is the most common alternative. It simply means 'to differ'. It is neutral and used for any comparison. Afwijken is more specific; it implies a 'baseline' that is being abandoned. Use afwijken when there is a rule, a plan, or a mathematical average involved.
Divergeren: Divergeren is the formal, academic cousin. You will see this in mathematics, biology, or high-level philosophy. It is almost never used in daily conversation. If you use it while buying bread, you will get strange looks!
Uiteenlopen: Uiteenlopen (to diverge/vary) is often used for opinions or results. 'De meningen lopen uiteen' (Opinions vary). It suggests that there are many different points, rather than one thing moving away from a single standard.

In plaats van 'afwijken', kun je soms variëren gebruiken als het om kleine verschillen gaat.

If you are talking about someone who is 'different' in a social sense, you might use apart or bijzonder. 'Hij is een beetje apart' (He is a bit odd/different). Afwijken in this context sounds more clinical: 'Zijn gedrag wijkt af van de sociale normen'. Use the former for friends and the latter for a psychology essay.

De uitslag komt overeen met onze verwachtingen (tegenovergestelde van afwijken).

When a plan is changed, you might also use bijstellen (to adjust) or veranderen (to change). However, afwijken specifically highlights that the new path is a departure from the original. 'We moesten van het plan afwijken' implies a forced or necessary change of direction, whereas 'We hebben het plan bijgesteld' sounds more like a controlled, minor tweak.

Zijn visie strookt niet met de werkelijkheid (een vastere uitdrukking voor afwijken).

Soms is het goed om van de gebaande paden af te wijken.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"De resultaten wijken significant af van de gestelde kaders."

Neutral

"De prijs van dit artikel wijkt af van wat er op het schap staat."

Informal

"Zijn nieuwe look wijkt nogal af van wat we gewend zijn."

Child friendly

"Dit eendje is anders, hij wijkt een beetje af van zijn broertjes."

Slang

"Die gast wijkt echt af, man."

Fun Fact

The root 'wijken' is also related to the English word 'weak' (someone who yields) and 'vicar' (someone who acts in place of another, from Latin vicarius, but with Germanic influence in meaning evolution).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈɑfʋɛikə(n)/

US /ˈɑfwaɪkən/

The primary stress is on the first syllable: AF-wij-ken.

Rhymes With

kijken lijken reiken ijken verrijken ontwijken bezwijken strijken

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ij' as 'ee' or 'ay'. It should be a unique Dutch diphthong.
Forgetting to stress the 'af', which is crucial for separable verbs.
Pronouncing the 'n' at the end too strongly; in many Dutch dialects, the final 'n' is silent or very soft.
Misplacing the stress in the past tense 'week'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize but the 'af' can be far from the 'wijkt'.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of separable verb word order and the correct auxiliary 'zijn'.

Speaking 4/5

The 'ij' sound and the separation of the verb in real-time can be tricky.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but the 'af' at the end might be missed.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

wijken af van norm plan

Learn Next

verschillen overeenkomen voldoen aanpassen

Advanced

divergeren discrepantie anomalie

Grammar to Know

Separable Verbs (Scheidbare werkwoorden)

Ik wijk af. (Present) / Ik week af. (Past)

Auxiliary 'zijn' with change of state verbs

De koers is afgeweken.

Word order in subordinate clauses

Ik zie dat de prijs afwijkt.

Infinitive with 'te'

Het is lastig om af te wijken.

Prepositional objects with 'van'

Zij wijkt af van de norm.

Examples by Level

De kleur wijkt af.

The color is different (deviates).

Simple present tense, 'af' at the end.

Dit wijkt af van mijn plan.

This is different from my plan.

Use of 'van' (from).

Waarom wijkt het af?

Why does it deviate?

Question form.

Het mag niet afwijken.

It is not allowed to deviate.

Infinitive at the end.

Mijn weg wijkt af.

My way goes a different way.

Subject + verb + af.

De prijs wijkt een beetje af.

The price is a little different.

Adding an adverb 'een beetje'.

Wij wijken nu af.

We are deviating now.

First person plural.

Is het afgeweken?

Did it deviate?

Perfect tense with 'is'.

De trein wijkt af van de normale route.

The train is deviating from the normal route.

Separable verb in a longer sentence.

Zijn antwoord wijkt af van het boek.

His answer differs from the book.

Abstract deviation.

We weken gisteren af van het pad.

We deviated from the path yesterday.

Past tense 'weken'.

Het resultaat is van de norm afgeweken.

The result has deviated from the norm.

Perfect tense 'is afgeweken'.

Je moet niet van de regels afwijken.

You must not deviate from the rules.

Modal verb 'moeten' + infinitive.

De temperatuur wijkt vandaag af.

The temperature is different today.

Time indication 'vandaag'.

Waarom week je af van de afspraak?

Why did you deviate from the agreement?

Past tense singular 'week'.

De uitslag kan soms afwijken.

The result can sometimes deviate.

Modal verb 'kunnen'.

De werkelijke kosten wijken sterk af van de begroting.

The actual costs deviate strongly from the budget.

Professional context, use of 'sterk'.

Het is niet toegestaan om van de procedure af te wijken.

It is not permitted to deviate from the procedure.

'om... te' construction with separable verb.

Haar kledingstijl wijkt af van wat gebruikelijk is.

Her clothing style differs from what is usual.

Social norm context.

De patiënt vertoont een afwijkend patroon.

The patient shows a deviating pattern.

Using the adjective 'afwijkend'.

Omdat de koers afwijkt, moeten we ingrijpen.

Because the course deviates, we must intervene.

Subordinate clause with 'omdat'.

Zijn mening wijkt totaal af van die van zijn ouders.

His opinion differs totally from that of his parents.

Use of 'totaal' for emphasis.

We zijn bewust van de standaardroute afgeweken.

We consciously deviated from the standard route.

Perfect tense with adverb 'bewust'.

Hoeveel mag de maat afwijken?

How much is the size allowed to deviate?

Interrogative with 'hoeveel'.

De resultaten wijken significant af van de controlegroep.

The results deviate significantly from the control group.

Academic vocabulary 'significant'.

Zij weigert af te wijken van haar principes.

She refuses to deviate from her principles.

Figurative use, 'om... te' structure.

De architect wilde bewust afwijken van de traditionele stijl.

The architect wanted to consciously deviate from the traditional style.

Creative context.

Er is een kleine afwijking geconstateerd in de metingen.

A small deviation has been noted in the measurements.

Noun form 'afwijking'.

Het beleid wijkt op een paar punten af van het voorstel.

The policy deviates on a few points from the proposal.

Prepositional phrase 'op een paar punten'.

De werkelijkheid week helaas af van onze dromen.

Reality unfortunately deviated from our dreams.

Poetic/literary use.

Indien de levering afwijkt, kunt u contact opnemen.

If the delivery differs, you can contact us.

Formal 'indien' clause.

Hij is nooit van zijn geloof afgeweken.

He has never deviated from his faith.

Perfect tense with 'nooit'.

De huidige koers wijkt fundamenteel af van de oorspronkelijke visie.

The current course deviates fundamentally from the original vision.

Advanced adverb 'fundamenteel'.

Het is interessant om te zien waar deze talen van elkaar afwijken.

It is interesting to see where these languages deviate from each other.

Comparative structure.

Men mag niet zomaar afwijken van de vastgestelde kaders.

One may not simply deviate from the established frameworks.

Impersonal 'men' and 'vastgestelde kaders'.

De statistische variantie laat zien hoe ver de data afwijkt.

The statistical variance shows how far the data deviates.

Technical/mathematical context.

Zijn gedrag week dusdanig af dat er zorgen ontstonden.

His behavior deviated to such an extent that concerns arose.

Use of 'dusdanig... dat'.

Door af te wijken van de norm, creëerde zij een nieuw genre.

By deviating from the norm, she created a new genre.

Gerund-like 'door ... te' construction.

De uitslag van de enquête week nauwelijks af van de prognose.

The survey result hardly deviated from the forecast.

Use of 'nauwelijks' (hardly).

In hoeverre wijkt dit scenario af van de ergste verwachtingen?

To what extent does this scenario deviate from the worst expectations?

Complex question 'In hoeverre'.

De jurisprudentie wijkt in dit specifieke geval af van de heersende leer.

The case law in this specific case deviates from the prevailing doctrine.

Legal terminology.

Het oeuvre van de schilder wijkt gaandeweg steeds meer af van het realisme.

The painter's work gradually deviates more and more from realism.

Art history context with 'gaandeweg'.

Er zijn valide redenen om van het protocol af te wijken.

There are valid reasons to deviate from the protocol.

High-level professional justification.

Zijn interpretatie wijkt schril af van de historische feiten.

His interpretation deviates sharply from historical facts.

Strong adverb 'schril'.

De empirische data lijken af te wijken van het theoretisch model.

The empirical data seem to deviate from the theoretical model.

Scientific jargon.

Men dient niet lichtzinnig van de traditie af te wijken.

One should not lightly deviate from tradition.

Formal 'dienen' and 'lichtzinnig'.

De begroting is op onverklaarbare wijze afgeweken van de raming.

The budget has deviated from the estimate in an inexplicable way.

Complex adverbial phrase.

Iedere afwijking van de koers kan fatale gevolgen hebben.

Every deviation from the course can have fatal consequences.

Noun 'afwijking' used as a subject.

Common Collocations

sterk afwijken

van de norm afwijken

van het plan afwijken

enigszins afwijken

bewust afwijken

structureel afwijken

van de route afwijken

significant afwijken

totaal afwijken

nauwelijks afwijken

Common Phrases

afwijken van de gebaande paden

— To do something original or unconventional.

Zij durft af te wijken van de gebaande paden.

een afwijkende mening hebben

— To have a different opinion than the majority.

Hij heeft vaak een afwijkende mening.

niet van je principes afwijken

— To stick to your moral beliefs.

Ik zal nooit van mijn principes afwijken.

afwijken van de standaard

— To not follow the usual quality or method.

Dit product wijkt af van de standaard.

van de koers afwijken

— To change direction (physical or metaphorical).

Het schip week van de koers af.

afwijken van de regels

— To break or ignore established rules.

Je mag hier niet van de regels afwijken.

een afwijkend resultaat

— A result that is abnormal or unexpected.

De dokter belde over een afwijkend resultaat.

afwijken van de waarheid

— To tell a lie or distort facts.

Zijn verhaal wijkt af van de waarheid.

van het onderwerp afwijken

— To start talking about something else.

Laten we niet van het onderwerp afwijken.

afwijken van het gemiddelde

— To be higher or lower than the average.

Haar lengte wijkt af van het gemiddelde.

Often Confused With

afwijken vs verschillen

Verschillen is general comparison; afwijken is leaving a standard.

afwijken vs ontwijken

Ontwijken means to avoid something; afwijken means to be different from it.

afwijken vs uitwijken

Uitwijken is to move aside to let something pass or to go to another location.

Idioms & Expressions

"van de gebaande paden afwijken"

— To think outside the box or act innovatively.

Innovatie ontstaat door van de gebaande paden af te wijken.

neutral

"geen duimbreed afwijken"

— To not change one's position or opinion even slightly.

Hij week geen duimbreed af van zijn standpunt.

formal

"van de rechte weg afwijken"

— To start behaving immorally or illegally.

Hij is van de rechte weg afgeweken.

literary

"uit de toon vallen"

— To be different in a way that is noticeable or awkward (similar to afwijken).

Zijn opmerking viel nogal uit de toon.

informal

"tegen de stroom in gaan"

— To go against the majority (related concept).

Zij gaat graag tegen de stroom in.

neutral

"een buitenbeentje zijn"

— To be someone who deviates from the group.

Hij was altijd al een buitenbeentje.

informal

"vreemde eend in de bijt"

— An outsider or someone who is different from the rest.

Ik voelde me een vreemde eend in de bijt.

informal

"de uitzondering op de regel"

— The exception to the rule.

Dit geval is de uitzondering op de regel.

neutral

"een andere koers varen"

— To take a different approach.

Het bedrijf gaat een andere koers varen.

neutral

"buiten de lijntjes kleuren"

— To be creative and not follow strict rules.

Zij houdt ervan om buiten de lijntjes te kleuren.

informal

Easily Confused

afwijken vs weken

Sounds like the past tense of afwijken.

Weken means 'weeks' or 'to soak'. We-ken (plural of week) vs We-ken (past tense).

De weken vlogen voorbij. vs Wij weken af.

afwijken vs wijken

It is the root verb.

Wijken alone means to yield or retreat. Afwijken means to deviate.

De vijand moest wijken. vs De koers wijkt af.

afwijken vs afwassen

Starts with 'af'.

Afwassen is to wash dishes.

Ik moet afwassen.

afwijken vs afwijzen

Starts with 'af' and has a similar middle sound.

Afwijzen means to reject or refuse.

Zij wees het aanbod af.

afwijken vs afwerken

Starts with 'af'.

Afwerken means to finish or complete a task.

Ik moet mijn lijstje afwerken.

Sentence Patterns

[Onderwerp] [wijkt/wijken] af.

De kleur wijkt af.

[Onderwerp] [wijkt/wijken] af van [standaard].

De prijs wijkt af van de lijst.

[Onderwerp] [is/zijn] afgeweken van [route].

De bus is afgeweken van de route.

Het is [bijvoeglijk naamwoord] om van [plan] af te wijken.

Het is moeilijk om van het plan af te wijken.

[Onderwerp] [wijkt/wijken] [bijwoord] af.

De uitslag wijkt sterk af.

Door af te wijken van [norm], [gevolg].

Door af te wijken van de norm, viel hij op.

In hoeverre [wijkt/wijken] [onderwerp] af?

In hoeverre wijkt dit af?

Men dient niet van [traditie] af te wijken.

Men dient niet van de traditie af te wijken.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in academic, professional, and news contexts.

Common Mistakes

Ik heb van het plan afgeweken. → Ik ben van het plan afgeweken.
Afwijken always uses the auxiliary verb 'zijn' in the perfect tense.
Het afwijkt van de norm. → Het wijkt af van de norm.
In a main clause, the separable prefix 'af' must go to the end.
Ik wil niet te afwijken. → Ik wil niet af te wijken.
The 'te' must be placed between the prefix 'af' and the verb 'wijken'.
De resultaten verschillen van de norm. → De resultaten wijken af van de norm.
While 'verschillen' isn't wrong, 'afwijken' is more precise when a standard is involved.
Zijn mening wijkt af met de mijne. → Zijn mening wijkt af van de mijne.
The correct preposition is always 'van', never 'met'.

Tips

Auxiliary Verb

Always use 'zijn' in the perfect tense. Think of it as 'being' in a state of deviation.

Van is Key

Connect 'afwijken' with 'van' in your mind. They are best friends in a sentence.

Stress the Af

Hit the 'AF' hard. It's the most important part of the word for listeners to understand you.

Separable Verb Order

In a main clause, kick that 'af' to the curb (the end of the sentence)!

Professionalism

Use 'afwijken' to sound more professional than just using 'anders zijn'.

Gebaande paden

Learn the idiom 'afwijken van de gebaande paden' to impress Dutch speakers.

Past Tense

Remember the vowel change: ij -> ee. Wijken becomes week/weken.

End of Sentence

Listen for the 'af' at the very end of long sentences; it changes the whole meaning.

Mathematical Link

If you know statistics, link it to 'deviation'. It's the same concept.

Fillers

Use 'enigszins afwijken' to sound more nuanced when you aren't 100% sure.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'af' as 'off' and 'wijken' as 'walking' (though etymologically different, the sound helps). You are 'walking off' the path.

Visual Association

Imagine a straight railroad track where one rail suddenly curves away into the grass. That curve is the 'afwijken'.

Word Web

Norm Plan Verschil Route Statistiek Gedrag Regels Koers

Challenge

Try to use 'afwijken' in three different ways today: once for a plan, once for an opinion, and once for a physical route.

Word Origin

Derived from the Middle Dutch 'afwijken'. It combines the prefix 'af-' (off, away) with the verb 'wijken' (to yield, move, or go).

Original meaning: To move away from a place or to step aside.

Germanic. Cognate with German 'abweichen'.

Cultural Context

When describing people, 'afwijkend' is clinical. Be careful not to use it to describe someone's personality in a rude way; use 'uniek' or 'anders' instead if you want to be kind.

English speakers often use 'differ' or 'deviate'. 'Deviate' can sound quite formal or even negative (like 'deviant behavior'), but the Dutch 'afwijken' is more common and neutral in daily life.

Standaardafwijking (Standard Deviation) - a key term in Dutch statistics. Afwijkend gedrag - a common term in Dutch sociology and psychology. De wet van de remmende voorsprong - an idea that sometimes requires 'afwijken' to overcome.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Work/Business

afwijken van de begroting
van de planning afwijken
afwijkende resultaten
van de procedure afwijken

Travel/Navigation

van de route afwijken
van de koers afwijken
een afwijkende weg nemen
weken af van het pad

Health/Science

een afwijkende waarde
afwijken van het gemiddelde
standaardafwijking
afwijkend gedrag

Opinions/Social

afwijken van de massa
een afwijkende mening
van zijn principes afwijken
niet willen afwijken

Art/Design

afwijken van de traditie
een afwijkende vorm
bewust afwijken
van de gebaande paden

Conversation Starters

"Vind je het erg om van een strakke planning af te wijken?"

"Waarom wijkt de Nederlandse cultuur volgens jou af van de jouwe?"

"Wanneer ben je voor het laatst bewust van de gebaande paden afgeweken?"

"Zou je durven af te wijken van de mening van al je vrienden?"

"Wat doe je als de resultaten van je werk sterk afwijken van je doelen?"

Journal Prompts

Schrijf over een moment waarop je van je oorspronkelijke levensplan bent afgeweken.

Beschrijf een situatie waarin het noodzakelijk was om van de regels af te wijken.

Hoe belangrijk is het voor een kunstenaar om af te wijken van de norm?

Reflecteer op een keer dat je mening sterk afweek van de rest van een groep.

Wat zijn de risico's van het te veel afwijken van een vastgestelde route?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it is neutral. In art and innovation, 'afwijken van de norm' is often positive. In safety protocols, it is negative.

No, you must use 'zijn'. The correct form is 'Ik ben afgeweken'.

The noun is 'de afwijking'. It can mean deviation or even a physical/mental disability in medical contexts.

It is an irregular (strong) verb: 'week af' (singular) and 'weken af' (plural).

Usually 'van' is used to indicate the standard, but it can stand alone: 'De resultaten wijken af.'

It is always 'af te wijken'. The 'te' goes between the prefix and the verb.

It is 'de standaardafwijking'.

Yes, to describe their behavior or opinions compared to a group.

'Divergeren' or 'een discrepantie vertonen' are good formal alternatives.

Yes, it is extremely common in Dutch, especially from B1 level upwards.