forhånd

Forhånd is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to denote something that is done or known before a given time or event. It is most commonly encountered in the fixed expression på forhånd, meaning in advance or beforehand. In everyday language, forhånd describes preparations, information, or decisions that occur prior to an action or decision point. In official or procedural contexts, it appears in compound terms such as forhåndsstemme, referring to early voting.

Etymology and scope: The word is formed from for- meaning before and hånd meaning hand, together conveying the sense of a step taken before the main event. The concept is widely applicable, covering plans, conditions, or notices that precede a formulation, agreement, or action.

Usage: On the linguistic level, på forhånd is the standard way to express advance knowledge or preparation. For example, Det ble besluttet på forhånd means It was decided in advance. Forhåndsstemme is the common term for voting before election day; other compounds may indicate preregistration, pre-approval, or preannounced arrangements, all of which share the core idea of prior action or information.

See also: på forhånd; forhåndsstemme; preregistration and other pre- prefixes in North Germanic languages.