Knuffelen

to cuddle, to hug [verb] [knuffelde, geknuffeld]

The noun that goes with "knuffelen" is "knuffel", which translates to "hug" or "cuddle" (see ‘Related words’).
Mind that in the Dutch language the "k" is always pronounced!

Examples:
"Ik heb zin om jou te knuffelen!"
("I feel like cuddling you!")

-"Waarom knuffelen wij nooit meer?"
("Why do we never cuddle anymore?")

– "Sommige mannen houden niet van knuffelen."
("Some men do not like to cuddle.")

– "Het verliefde stelletje zat te knuffelen op een bankje in het park."
("The amorous couple was cuddling on a (little) bench in the park.")

– "Baby’s die veel geknuffeld worden, worden later heel sociaal."
("Babies that are cuddled a lot, become very social later on.")

Related words:
– "Knuffelbeer": teddy bear.
– "Knuffel": hug, cuddle.

Example:
– <at the end of an e-mail:> "Dikke Knuffel!"
("Big hug!")

– "Knuffel": soft/cuddly toy (if clear from context).

Examples:
– "Mijn dochtertje is verdrietig, want zij heeft haar knuffel verloren."
("My daughter is sad, because she lost her cuddly toy." Notice here that the diminutive form of "dochter" is functional. )

– <one lover to the other lover:> "Hoi knuffeltje, ik ben wat later thuis vanavond!"
("Hi honey, I’m home a bit later tonight!" Literally it says: "Hi little cuddly toy, …" 🙂 )

– "Omhelzen": to embrace.