etterfølge

Etterfølge is a Norwegian term that functions as both a verb and a noun with related meanings: to follow after in order, and the person or thing that follows or succeeds. Etymologically it combines etter (after) and følge (to follow). The verb å etterfølge means to take over a role or position after someone else, to replace or succeed them. It is used in contexts such as politics, business, sports, and administration.

The noun en etterfølger denotes a successor—the person who follows another in a position or office. It can also refer to a thing that comes next in a sequence, such as the next item after a given point in a list or procedure. The related adjective etterfølgende describes something that comes after, i.e., subsequent or following.

In practice, etterfølge is closely tied to the concept of succession and succession planning. For example, a company may identify an etterfølger for the current chief executive, or a government may designate an etterfølger to a ministerial post. The term emphasizes continuity and the orderly transition from one holder of a role to another.

The word is mainly used in Bokmål Norwegian. In some dialects or in Nynorsk, related forms may differ (for instance, verb forms or noun variants that reflect orthographic conventions in those varieties). In English, the closest equivalents are successor or to succeed.