eenvoudig vs duidelijk
Dutch word comparison
Listen to eenvoudig
Listen to duidelijk
| eenvoudig | duidelijk |
|---|---|
EEN-vou-dig adjective | DUY-duh-luk adjective |
| simple; easy to understand or not complicated | clear; easy to understand |
How they differ
"Duidelijk" is not a perfect synonym, but in many contexts it overlaps with "eenvoudig" when the main idea is that something is easy to understand. The difference is that "duidelijk" stresses clarity and lack of ambiguity, while "eenvoudig" stresses simplicity and lack of complication.
When to use each
When to use eenvoudig: Prefer "eenvoudig" when you mean something is simple in structure or design, not necessarily just clear.
When to use duidelijk: Prefer "duidelijk" when you want to say something is easy to understand because it is clear and unambiguous.
Side-by-side examples
- De instructies zijn eenvoudig geschreven.
(The instructions are written simply.) - De instructies zijn duidelijk geschreven.
(The instructions are written clearly.)
Register & nuance: "Duidelijk" is neutral and very common, but it is used for clarity more than for simplicity.
- See the full Word of the Day entry for eenvoudig
- See the Word of the Day entry for duidelijk
- Back to today's Dutch word