undertegnet

Undertegnet is a term used in Norwegian (and more broadly in related Scandinavian languages) to refer to the person who signs a document, or to the signer as a group. It can function as a noun meaning “the undersigned,” or as part of a phrase indicating that the writer is signing the document. The word is common in formal letters, petitions, contracts, and other official texts, where it identifies who is responsible for the statements or consent contained in the document. For example, a sentence such as “Undertegnet erklærer at opplysningene er korrekte” would translate to “The undersigned declares that the information is correct.” In plural usage, one often sees “Undertegnede” to refer to the signatories collectively, as in “Undertegnede erklærer at ...”.

Etymology and forms: Undertegnet is derived from the verb undertegne, meaning to sign or to sign beneath. The prefix under- comes from the notion of proceeding in writing, with tegne meaning to draw or sign. In Norwegian, common forms include undertegnet (singular) and undertegnede (plural or collective). These forms reflect the grammatical number of the signer(s) and are used in formal phrasing to designate who has signed.

Usage notes: The term is distinctly formal and is most often encountered in official correspondence, legal documents, and administrative texts. It functions both as a label for the signer and as a conventional introductory or concluding formula in which the signer’s name, title, and affiliation may be listed beneath the word or at the end of the document. Related terms include underskrift (the signature) and tegn (to sign).