Alphen

Dutch

Alternative forms

• Alfe (Noord-Brabant, dialect spelling)

Etymology

• (Noord-Brabant) First attested as alfheim in 719. Compound of an unclear first element and heem (“home, settlement”). The first element has been variously interpreted as Middle Dutch alf (“gnome, evil spirit, elf”) and Old Dutch Alf (a personal name).
• (Gelderland and Zuid-Holland) See respectively Alphen aan de Maas and Alphen aan den Rijn.
• (Former municipality) Named after Alphen aan den Rijn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑl.fə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Al‧phen
• Rhymes: -ɑlfən

Proper noun

Alphen n

1. A village in Alphen-Chaam, North Brabant, Netherlands

   Synonym: Struivenlaand (Carnival nickname)

2. any of multiple towns and/or municipalities in the Netherlands:
   1. Alphen aan den Rijn, a city and municipality in Zuid-Holland
   2. Alphen aan de Maas, a village in Gelderland
   3. Alphen-Chaam, a municipality in Noord-Brabant
   4. A former municipality of South Holland, Netherlands

Usage notes

Alphen in Noord-Brabant is always referred to simply as "Alphen", as it is not close to any bodies of water. Alphen aan den Rijn and Alphen aan de Maas are only referred to as "Alphen" in local contexts or when the speaker is sure his or her interlocutor knows which settlement is being referred to.

Derived terms

• Alphenaar
• Alphens
• Alphen-Oosterwijk
• Alphen-Chaam
• Alphen en Riel

References

• van Berkel, Gerard, Samplonius, Kees (2018) Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard (in Dutch), Mijnbestseller.nl, →ISBN