Vedkommende

Vedkommende is a term used in Norwegian and Danish with meanings related to relevance and the person being referred to. In both languages it can function as an adjective meaning “relevant,” “pertinent,” or “concerning,” as in phrases like the relevant questions or the relevant authorities.

In Norwegian, vedkommende also functions as a noun meaning “the person in question” or “the people involved,” typically in formal, legal, or journalistic contexts. For example, vedkommende part refers to the party concerned. As an adjective, it commonly appears before the noun it modifies, as in vedkommende spørsmål or vedkommende parter. The use as a noun is more prevalent in Norwegian than in Danish.

In Danish, vedkommende is primarily used as an adjective meaning “relevant” or “concerned,” appearing before the noun (e.g., vedkommende spørgsmål, vedkommende myndigheder). The noun use to denote “the person in question” is less common and tends to be found mainly in formal texts, where phrasing such as den vedkommende is used.

Usage and style notes:

- Vedkommende conveys formality and is common in legal, administrative, and media language.

- It is a neutral term that avoids naming a person directly when that may be sensitive or unnecessary.

- In Norwegian, you may encounter vedkommende used as a stand-alone noun, whereas in Danish the noun form is rar and the adjective use is more typical.

Etymology (brief): The word is formed from components related to “regarding/concerning” and “coming/pertinent,” yielding a meaning akin to “concerning the matter at hand” and “the person in question.”