Weduwe

Weduwe is the Dutch word for a woman whose spouse has died. It denotes a status known as widowhood and is used in legal, demographic, genealogical and cultural discussions to describe a surviving spouse.

Etymology and usage: The term Weduwe is of Dutch origin and is cognate with the German Witwe and English widow. The form has appeared in Dutch religious and legal texts since the Middle Ages, and remains the standard term in contemporary Dutch.

Gender and related terms: The male counterpart is weduwnaar, commonly rendered in English as widower. In Dutch usage, both terms describe the surviving spouse, with the gender reflected in the noun.

Social and legal aspects: In many legal systems, a widow may have rights to property or survivor benefits through the deceased spouse’s estate. Cultural practices around mourning have varied, with some traditions prescribing periods of bereavement or social withdrawal, though modern practice is diverse and largely voluntary. Public and private institutions may address the needs of widows in areas such as social security, housing, and bereavement support.

Demographics and culture: Because women tend to live longer than men, widowhood is more common among older women in many societies. Widows appear in literature, film and art as figures of loss, resilience and adaptation, reflecting a range of social and personal responses to bereavement.

See also: Widower, mourning, bereavement.