beschaving

Dutch

Etymology

From beschaven ‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bəˈsxaː.vɪŋ/

• Audio (Belgium):

  (file)

• Audio (Netherlands):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: be‧scha‧ving
• Rhymes: -aːvɪŋ

Noun

beschaving f (plural beschavingen, diminutive beschavinkje n)

1. civilization (organised culture encompassing many communities)

   Voor de verwoestijning van het schiereiland was dit het kerngebied van verschillende oude beschavingen.

   Prior to the desertification of the peninsula this was the core area of several ancient civilisations.

2. civilization (society, as opposed to wild nature)

   De schipbreukelingen wisten de beschaving te bereiken.

   The castaways managed to reach civilisation.

Derived terms

• beschavingsideaal

Descendants

• Afrikaans: beskawing