Avløse

Avløse is a Norwegian verb meaning to relieve or substitute someone temporarily by taking over their duties or responsibilities. The term is used when one person covers for another for a period, allowing the original person to rest, attend to something else, or be relieved from a task. It emphasizes temporary replacement rather than a permanent change of role.

The verb is commonly used in work, care, security, and service contexts. Examples include shifts at a workplace, night or weekend coverage, and caregivers stepping in for each other. In practice, you might hear sentences such as “Hun avløser meg i nattevakten” or “Kan du avløse henne i ettermiddagen.” A related noun form is avløser, referring to the person who covers or relieves another. Synonyms and related concepts include erstatte, vikar, and stedfortreder, which convey similar ideas of substitution or temporary replacement.

Grammar notes: the infinitive is å avløse; present tense is avløser; past tense is avløste; the past participle is avløst. The word can also be used in broader sense to indicate relieving someone of duties in a formal or organizational context. While primarily used for people and shifts, the concept can appear in non-work situations where one party steps in to take over responsibilities from another. See also erstatte, vikar, stedfortreder for related terms.