wel

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See also: Wel, we'l, and wel-

Translingual

Symbol

wel

  1. (international standards) ISO 639-2/B language code for Welsh.

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʋɛl/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: wel
  • Homophone: Well
  • Rhymes: -ɛl

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch wel, from Old Dutch *wela, wala, from Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Compare German wohl, English well, Icelandic vel, Swedish väl, Danish and Norwegian vel.

Adverb

wel

  1. the opposite of not (used to add positive emphasis to the verb, much like the auxiliaries do or does in affirmative sentences in English)
    Ik dacht dat je niet van golf hield? — Ik hou wél van golf!
    I thought you didn't like golf? — I do like golf!
    Je ziet wel dat...
    You certainly see that...
    Ik ken hem wel, maar niet goed.
    I do know him, but not well.
    Maar wat wil je dan wel?
    Well then, what do you want?
  2. no less than, as much as, as many as (expressing amazement)
    Zij heeft wel twaalf uur gewerkt vandaag!
    She has worked no less than twelve hours today!
  3. fairly
    Ik voel me wel aardig, maar niet echt goed.
    I feel fairly decent, but not really good.
  4. (dated, dialectal) well
    Wat God doet, dat is wel gedaan.
    What God does, that is well done.
    "Dat is wel gedacht," zeide hij.
    "That is well thought through, " he said.
Usage notes
  • In sense 1, the word is often strongly stressed (especially when directly contradicting a negative statement or question) and may therefore be written with an accent, wél, as is common in written Dutch to indicate emphasis.
  • Using wel as adverbial form of goed is rare. Usually, the adjective is used in its bare form (as with other adjectives).
  • The use of wel in the sense of "fairly", while quite idiomatic, is very unemphatic. When translating to English, it is usually best to leave it out.
Derived terms
Descendants
  • Afrikaans: wel
  • Negerhollands: wel
  • Skepi Creole Dutch: wel
  • → Kwinti: wel

Etymology 2

From the adverb wel.

Noun

wel n (uncountable)

  1. weal (general state of well-being and prosperity)

Etymology 3

From Middle Dutch *welle, from Old Dutch *wella, from Proto-Germanic *wallijō.

Noun

wel f (plural wellen, diminutive welletje n)

  1. (rare) well, source

Etymology 4

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

wel c (plural wellen, diminutive welletje n)

  1. well; shaft (excavation made for the extraction of mineral resources)

Etymology 5

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

wel

  1. inflection of wellen:
    1. first-person singular present indicative
    2. imperative

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch *wela, wala, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Pronunciation

Adverb

wel (comparative bat or beter, superlative best)

  1. well

Alternative forms

Descendants

Further reading

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English wel, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /wɛl/, /wɛːl/, /weːl/

Adverb

wel (comparative bettre, bet, superlative best)

  1. Well, amazingly, expertly; in a good or excellent way:
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
      Ful wel she sange the service devine, / Entuned in hire nose ful swetely.
    1. Fittingly, suitably; in a fitting way.
    2. Correctly, accurately; in an accurate way.
    3. Stoutly, boldly, bravely; with courageousness.
    4. In an easily discernible or understood manner.
    5. (rare) In a way suggesting acute discernment or reasoning.
    6. With no challenge, struggle, or hardship.
    7. In a large quantity or amount; copiously or plenteously.
  2. With care, attention, or fastidiousness:
    1. Mindfully; with care taken to others' wishes or beliefs.
    2. Painstakingly; with care taken to include or incorporate details.
    3. Cautiously; with care taken to avoid mistakes.
  3. In a way that is appealing or pleasing to someone or some standard:
    1. Traditionally; in the prescribed or proper way.
    2. Virtuously, morally, religiously; according to morals.
    3. Healthily; in a way displaying good health and condition.
    4. Beautifully; in a way pleasing to senses or sensibilities.
    5. Kindly, approvingly; in a way causing respect.
  4. To or with a great extent or depth: extensively, comprehensively:
    1. In an intensifying sense; highly, greatly, very.
    2. In a superlative sense; incredibly, really, extremely.
    3. Totally, entirely; in a way that encompasses everything
    4. With the right or required depth or efficacy; enough.
    5. In a final or decisive manner; with finality.
  5. Luckily, fortuitously; with good luck or fortune.
  6. In a rigid or secure way; stably or fixedly.
  7. For a suitable or fitting reason or cause; appropriately.
  8. As much as; to the specified extent, not smaller than.
  9. Around, about (a given quantity or measure)
  10. (semi-interjectional) Probably, maybe, potentially.
  11. (rare) Truthfully, honestly; in a heartfelt way.

Descendants

References

Adjective

wel (comparative bet) (almost always predicative)

  1. Lucky; experiencing good luck or fortune.
  2. Good, worthy, commendable; of good quality or moral status.
  3. Wealthy, prosperous, accomplished; experiencing success.
  4. Pleased, happy, glad; experiencing happiness.
  5. Healthy; experiencing good health and/or in good condition.
  6. Fine, acceptable, suitable, useable; having no problems.
  7. (rare) Having good grooming or personal hygiene.

Descendants

References

Interjection

wel

  1. Used to preface or begin a statement or situation.
  2. Used to acknowledge or reply to a statement or situation.
  3. Used to indicate victory, realisation, or overcoming.

Descendants

References

North Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian wel, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Verb

wel

  1. (Föhr-Amrum Dialect) to want
  2. (Föhr-Amrum Dialect) shall, will (future tense auxiliary verb)

Usage notes

  • wel, wal, wääl, wul, and wulen were previously written as well, wall, wäl, wull and wullen respectively.

Conjugation

Conjugation of wel
infinitive I wel
infinitive II -
past participle wulen
imperative singular -
imperative plural -
  present past
1st-person singular ik wal ik wul
2nd-person singular dü wääl dü wulst
3rd-person singular hi/hat/at wal hi/hat/at wul
1st-person dual wat wel wat wul
2nd-person dual jat wel jat wul
1st-person plural wi wel wi wul
2nd-person plural jam wel jam wul
3rd-person plural jo wel jo wul
  perfect pluperfect
1st-person singular ik haa wulen ik hed wulen
2nd-person singular dü heest wulen dü hedst wulen
3rd-person singular hi/hat/at hee wulen hi/hat/at hed wulen
1st-person dual wat haa wulen wat hed wulen
2nd-person dual jat haa wulen jat hed wulen
1st-person plural wi haa wulen wi hed wulen
2nd-person plural jam haa wulen jam hed wulen
3rd-person plural jo haa wulen jo hed wulen
  future (skel) future (wel)
1st-person singular ik skal wel ik wal wel
2nd-person singular dü skääl wel dü wääl wel
3rd-person singular hi/hat/at skal wel hi/hat/at wal wel
1st-person dual wat skel wel wat wel wel
2nd-person dual jat skel wel jat wel wel
1st-person plural wi skel wel wi wel wel
2nd-person plural jam skel wel jam wel wel
3rd-person plural jo skel wel jo wel wel


Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Akin to Old Frisian wela, Old Saxon wela, Old High German wola, Old Norse vel, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila).

Pronunciation

Adverb

wel (comparative bet, superlative betest)

  1. well

Descendants

Squamish

Etymology

Cognate with Halkomelem wô:l (“cattail”).

Noun

wel

  1. cattail, bullrush

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English oil.

Noun

wel

  1. oil

Adjective

wel

  1. slippery
  2. tricky; cunning
  3. inedible
  4. feral

Welsh

Etymology

Borrowed from English well.

Pronunciation

Interjection

wel

  1. well

Yola

Adverb

wel

  1. Alternative form of waal (“well”)
    • 1867, “VERSES IN ANSWER TO THE WEDDEEN O BALLYMORE”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 1, page 100:
      A laafe ing lemethès chote wel ta ba zang,
      A leaf in tatters, I know well to be sung,

References

  • Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 100
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