nedre

Nedre is a Scandinavian toponymic term meaning "lower" or "the lower part" and is used in Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish. In everyday language it functions as an adjective, but it also appears as a component of proper place names. When written as part of a toponym, nedre is typically capitalized as the first element of the name, while in descriptive prose it remains lowercase.

In toponymy, nedre usually signals relative position within a landscape, and it is commonly paired with øvre, meaning "upper." A settlement, district, or geographic feature designated as nedre generally lies downstream, downhill, or on the lower side of a valley or hillside compared with its counterpart labeled øvre. This naming practice helps distinguish two related parts of a village, parish, or region.

Usage and scope are broad rather than fixed. Nedre appears in rural and urban contexts and is frequently found in farm or district names as part of longer names describing location. It is not an independent noun but a descriptive element that forms part of a broader geographical label.

Historically, nedre reflects descriptive naming traditions in Old Norse and later Scandinavian languages, with older forms appearing in historical texts. Today it remains a standard descriptive component in official names, cadastral records, and local usage to indicate the lower position of a place within a larger area.

See also: Øvre.