Rouwen

Rouwen is a Dutch verb meaning to mourn or grieve, usually in response to the death of a person or to a significant loss. It can describe the emotional process as well as outward expressions of sorrow, remembrance, and consolation. Common contexts include mourning a relative or friend and adjusting to life after loss. In Dutch, phrases such as om iemands overlijden rouwen (to mourn someone’s death) and in rouw zijn (to be in mourning) are regularly used.

Grammatical notes: rouwen is an -en verb and follows standard present-tense conjugation. Typical forms are ik rouw, jij rouwt, hij/zij/het rouwt, wij rouwen, jullie rouwen, zij rouwen. The past tense and past participle are formed in standard Dutch ways, for example rouwde or hebben gerouwd, depending on aspect and construction. The verb is often used with nouns and adjectives describing mourning, memory, and loss.

Usage and related terms: In everyday language, the noun rouw denotes mourning as a state or period, while rouwbericht refers to a death notice, rouwkaart to a mourning card, and rouwkrans to a wreath worn or placed in remembrance. The concept also intersects with cultural practices, such as condolences, funeral ceremonies, and periods of social withdrawal or adjustment during the rouwperiode. In media and literature, rouwen can be depicted as a necessary emotional process and a shared social experience.

Etymology and relation: Rouwen is of Dutch origin, derived from the noun rouw (mourning). It is cognate with related Germanic terms for grief found in neighboring languages, reflecting the shared cultural role of mourning across the region.

See also: Rouw; Mourning; Death notice; Funeral customs.