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Avdøde

Avdøde is a Norwegian term meaning “the deceased” or “the dead.” It is used primarily as a noun phrase or formal epithet to refer to a person who has died. In everyday speech Norwegians typically say “den avdøde” for “the deceased person” and “de avdøde” for “the deceased” in plural contexts. The term is common in obituaries, legal documents, and historical writing.

Grammatical notes: Avdøde is formed from the adjective død with the prefix av-. In singular use it

Usage and nuance: Compared with død, which means simply “dead,” avdøde carries a more formal register and

See also: obituary, death, necrology, probate and estate administration, memory of the deceased.

appears
as
“den
avdøde”
(the
deceased
person)
and
in
plural
as
“de
avdøde.”
In
this
use,
it
can
function
as
a
substantive
on
its
own
rather
than
as
a
strict
adjective.
emphasizes
the
status
of
a
person
after
death.
It
is
common
in
necrologies,
obituaries,
and
administrative
contexts
dealing
with
estates,
inheritance,
and
memory
of
those
who
have
died.