overlijdensbericht
The English word 'obituary' is translated into Dutch as overlijdensbericht.
An overlijdensbericht is a brief notice of a person's death, typically the kind published in a newspaper.
Meaning: brief notice of a person’s death, especially one published in a newspaper (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of overlijden, which means to pass away or die and bericht, meaning a message or notice.
Which one should you use?
overlijdensbericht is the standard term for a death notice. In contrast, rouwadvertentie specifically refers to a paid obituary or funeral notice advertisement placed in a newspaper. You should avoid using doodsbericht, as it is much more blunt and rarely used in respectful or formal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
overlijdensbericht is a neuter noun, meaning it takes the definite article het. The plural form is overlijdensberichten.
Did you know?
- In the Netherlands, it is a common tradition for the overlijdensbericht to list not only the immediate family but also the 'extended' circle of grieving relatives, often including cousins or distant aunts.
- The 's' in overlijdensbericht is a linking 's', a common grammatical feature in Dutch compound words that serves to join two nouns together.
- If you see 'In memoriam' in a Dutch newspaper, it is often a more poetic or literary tribute than a standard 'overlijdensbericht'.
Examples in context
- Heb je de rouwadvertentie van tante Truus al gezien?Have you seen aunt Truus' obituary?
- Heb je het doodsbericht van opa al gezien?Have you seen grandpa's obituary?
- Kun je de overlijdensadvertentie in het plaatselijke nieuwsblad zetten?Can you publish the obituary in the local newspaper?
- De uitvaartplechtigheid zal plaatsvinden op [datum] om [tijdstip] in [locatie].The funeral ceremony will take place on [date] at [time] at [location].
- Ik zag haar overlijdensbericht in de krant.I saw her obituary in the newspaper.
- Heeft u het overlijdensbericht al gelezen?Have you read the obituary yet?
- Het overlijdensbericht staat in de lokale krant.The obituary is in the local newspaper.
Example conversation
Daan and Julia are talking about a mutual acquaintance who passed away.
- DaanHeb jij het overlijdensbericht al gezien?Have you seen the obituary already?
- JuliaNee, waar staat het?No, where is it?
- DaanHet staat in de lokale krant van vandaag.It is in today's local newspaper.
- JuliaBedankt, ik ga het nu lezen.Thanks, I am going to read it now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries overlijdensbericht, CC BY-SA 4.0.
