Neologisms & new coinages

How Dutch makes new words

• Compounding is the main engine, and compounds of any length are written as one word: anderhalvemetersamenleving (Van Dale's Word of the Year 2020), klimaatspijbelaar, flitsbezorger.
• Derivation with productive affixes: ont- (ontvolgen = unfollow, ontzorgen = take worries off someone's hands), -baar (deelbaar), -loos.
• English verbs get Dutch conjugation and Dutch spelling: appen (ik app, ik appte, ik heb geappt), googelen (ik google, ik googelde, gegoogeld), liken (hij liket, hij likete, geliket).
• Blends (mengwoorden) and copied patterns: Nexit after Brexit. Many neologisms turn out to be eendagsvliegen; a word that lasts raakt ingeburgerd and may end up in the dictionary.