Följe

Följe is a Swedish noun (ett följe) meaning a group of people who accompany someone, especially in a formal, ceremonial, or official context. The term conveys the idea of an entourage or retinue, such as the king's följe, a diplomat's följe, or a procession’s attendants. The word is somewhat archaic or literary in contemporary Swedish and is more common in historical writing or ceremonial descriptions than in everyday speech. It can also be used more broadly to indicate a set of accompanying things or a following in a sequence, but this use is less common.

Etymology: derived from the verb följa (‘to follow’), with a noun-forming suffix. It is cognate with related words in other Scandinavian languages, reflecting a common Germanic heritage of terms for followers or attendants.

Usage notes: In modern Swedish, följe is largely confined to formal contexts; more common synonyms include sällskap or följeslagare (an escort or companion). The phrase "kungens följe" is a classic example.

See also: följeslagare, sällskap, fylgja (mythological being that accompanies a person).