etter

Etter is a preposition used in Norwegian, where it typically means after or following. It is employed to indicate temporal sequence, as in sentences like “Etter frokosten dro jeg på jobb” (After breakfast I went to work), and to express succession or order in phrases such as “etter møtet” (after the meeting). The word is common in everyday Norwegian and appears in both spoken and written language.

In Norwegian, etter is a stand-alone preposition and does not capitalize when used in the middle of a sentence. It is often used with time expressions and with nouns describing events or actions that occur subsequently. While etter is most closely associated with Norwegian, related forms exist in other Germanic languages, reflecting a common historical lineage for post-t- or after- type prepositions in the family.

Beyond its function as a preposition, Etter can appear as a proper noun in various contexts. It is used as a surname in Germanic-speaking regions and may appear in place names, organizations, or titles where capitalization indicates a specific name rather than a common word. These uses are distinct from the Norwegian preposition and are not directly related in meaning.

Overall, etter primarily denotes timing and sequence in Norwegian, while as a proper noun it can designate people, places, or organizations in other contexts. The term’s core sense—related to what comes after—persists across its different uses, even as the form shifts between common word and proper name.