I have chosen “alstubliefty” as my pen name for this blog and, not surprisingly, I am always asked what it means.
Alstublieft is a Dutch word with no precise English equivalence.
I suppose the closest translation would be “please,” but it can also be used anytime one wishes to express politeness, thanks and gratitude.
I was exposed to the word “alstublieft” while I was studying in Antwerp, Belgium the summer of ’05.
While studying in Antwerp, I quickly discovered that Belgians were far better – and far more comfortable – speaking English than I would ever be at speaking Dutch (or Flemish – a dialect of Dutch spoke in Flanders, the region of Belgium where Antwerp is located).
However, I wanted to speak the native language as often as I could, without becoming too terribly uncomfortable and without sounding too terribly ignorant, which is exactly how “alstublieft” quickly became one of my favorite words.
“Alstubiefty,” on the other hand, isn’t a word at all – it is more or less a creation of my own. But I quite like the way it sounds. And I like that I can call it my own. And I love how it reminds me of one of my most cherished life experiences. So now you know…the definition, or meaning, rather, of the word alstublieft and it’s close cousin alstubliefty.
