Avkommene

Avkommene is a Norwegian noun meaning “the descendants” or “the offspring.” It refers to all later generations that descend from a specified ancestor or lineage. The term is the definite plural form of avkom, which means offspring, with the suffix -ene marking the definite plural.

The term has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish avkom and Danish afkom. It originates from the same root that denotes offspring and is used in genealogical and historical contexts to discuss lines of descent.

Usage commonly appears in genealogical writing, historical narratives, and breed descriptions. It can denote descendants across multiple generations, for example in describing the avkommene of a medieval noble family or the avkommene of a particular breed. In some contexts, avkommene emphasizes a defined line of descent from a known ancestor, as opposed to a more general reference to descendants.

In modern Norwegian, etterkommere is also widely used and may be more common for generic descendants; avkommene tends to be used when a specific lineage is being described.

See also avkom, etterkommere.