This is the 1775th most frequent Dutch word.
zieke
"Sieke" means "sick person" or "patient" in English.
Here, 'zieke' serves as a noun referring to a sick person.
De zieke ligt in bed.
The sick person is lying in bed.
In this sentence, 'zieke' describes the noun 'children', meaning the ill children.
Wij bezoeken de zieke kinderen in het ziekenhuis.
We visit the sick children in the hospital.
Here, 'zieke' is used as an adjective in its inflected form, describing the person.