afdød

Afdød is a Danish and Norwegian term meaning the person who has died, i.e., the deceased. It is used in both everyday language and formal contexts to refer to someone who has passed away. The word can function as both an adjective and a noun; an example is the expression den afdøde, the deceased person. In Danish and Norwegian, the term commonly appears in obituaries, legal documents such as wills and probate records, medical notes, and discussions of funeral arrangements. It carries a neutral, respectful tone and is preferred in polite or formal discourse when referring to someone who has died, as opposed to more clinical terms.

Etymology: Afdød is formed from af-, a prefix meaning away or off, and død, meaning dead. The compound conveys the sense of someone who is no longer living.

Usage and etiquette: When referring to the deceased, speakers and writers often pair the term with the person’s name or a description (for example, “the late [name]”). The term is used across Scandinavian cultures and has parallel equivalents in other languages, such as English “the deceased” or “the late.”

See also: obituaries, death, funeral, bereavement.