-schap

The -schap Suffix

Level 4

The suffix -schap turns nouns, adjectives, or verbs into nouns. It can represent a state (friendship), a group (company), or a professional role (chairmanship). Crucially, its gender (de or het) depends on its meaning.

How It Works

The suffix -schap is a versatile tool in Dutch word formation, serving as the direct cognate to the English suffix -ship. It is used in several ways, and its gender often depends on the meaning:

Abstract States and Qualities: These describe relationships or qualities. Most are de-words and are grammatically feminine. Examples: de vriendschap (friendship), de wetenschap (science), de eigenschap (quality), and de vennootschap (company).
Adjective and Verb Stems: Nouns derived from adjectives (e.g., de blijdschap, de beterschap) or verbs (e.g., de rekenschap) are usually de-words. A notable exception is het gereedschap (tools).
Offices, Status, and Expertise: When referring to a professional role, formal status, or specific craftsmanship, these are het-words. Examples: het burgemeesterschap (mayoralty), het lidmaatschap (membership), het vakmanschap (craftsmanship), and het meesterschap (expertise).
Collectives and Territories: These refer to groups, areas, or sets of items and are typically het-words. Examples: het landschap (landscape), het gezelschap (company/group), and het graafschap (county/earldom).

Morphology and Stems:
The suffix is -schap and is generally added directly to the base word (e.g., voorzitter + schap = voorzitterschap; moeder + schap = moederschap). In some cases, a linking -s- is used. Note that in words like wetenschap and rekenschap, the -en- is not a linking sound but is part of the original verb stem (weten, rekenen). Similarly, the -d- in blijdschap is part of the original stem (from the older form blijde) rather than a phonetic addition.

Gender Nuance:
In a few specific cases, the gender changes to distinguish between a group and a status. For example, de priesterschap refers to the collective group of priests, while het priesterschap refers to the office or state of being a priest.

Pluralization:
Regardless of the singular gender, the plural form always uses de and ends in -schappen (e.g., de landschappen).

Examples (6)

De vriendschap tussen hen is erg sterk.
The friendship between them is very strong.
Word by Word: The friendship between them is very strong.
Here, -schap forms an abstract relationship noun from a noun stem (vriend), which takes the article 'de'.
Het hele gezelschap ging naar het museum.
The whole company went to the museum.
Word by Word: The whole company went to the museum.
In this case, -schap forms a collective noun for a group of people. Many collective nouns like 'gezelschap' and 'genootschap' are 'het-words'.
Zij heeft het voorzitterschap aanvaard.
She has accepted the chairmanship.
Word by Word: She has the chairmanship accepted.
Here, -schap denotes a professional office or position, which takes the article 'het'.
Ik moet nog een boodschap doen bij de supermarkt.
I still need to run an errand at the supermarket.
Word by Word: I must still an errand do at the supermarket.
'De boodschap' (message/errand) is a common 'de-word' ending in -schap. Unlike many others, it refers to a concrete task or piece of information.
Hij wenste haar veel beterschap.
He wished her a speedy recovery.
Word by Word: He wished her much recovery.
'De beterschap' (recovery) is formed from an adjective (beter). In Standard Dutch, it is a 'de-word', though you may hear 'het' in some regional dialects.
Haar blijdschap was duidelijk te zien.
Her happiness was clearly visible.
Word by Word: Her happiness was clearly to see.
'De blijdschap' (happiness) is formed from an adjective (blij). Most nouns formed from adjectives with -schap are 'de-words'.

Common Mistakes

Using 'het' for all -schap nouns.
Het vriendschap is belangrijk.
De vriendschap is belangrijk.
Many learners assume all -schap nouns are neuter (het). However, abstract qualities and relationships are almost always de-words.
Using 'de' for concrete collectives or jurisdictions.
De gezelschap was erg gezellig.
Het gezelschap was erg gezellig.
While social collectives like 'de gemeenschap' take 'de', concrete collectives (like 'het gereedschap') and jurisdictions (like 'het graafschap') are het-words.
Confusing the gender of professional roles.
De burgemeesterschap.
Het burgemeesterschap.
Nouns that refer to a specific office, status, or professional role are almost always het-words.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-schapLevel 4The -schap Suffix

Learn This First

To understand the -schap suffix, you need to be familiar with how Dutch nouns are categorized by gender, specifically 'het' words, as this suffix creates abstract neuter nouns. Knowledge of how Dutch builds complex words through compounding also helps in recognizing these formations.

Words in This Pattern