Mannen er avdød.

Mannen is the definite singular form of mann.

• mann = a man
• mannen = the man

Norwegian often adds the definite article as an ending:

• en bil = a car
• bilen = the car
• en mann = a man
• mannen = the man

So Mannen er avdød specifically means the man is deceased, not just a man.

In this sentence, avdød functions like an adjective meaning deceased.

It is used after er in the same way as other adjectives:

• Mannen er syk = The man is ill
• Mannen er død = The man is dead
• Mannen er avdød = The man is deceased

Compared with død, avdød is usually more formal, neutral, or respectful in tone.

Er is the present tense of å være (to be).

In Norwegian, you use to be with adjectives:

• Han er trøtt = He is tired
• Hun er glad = She is happy
• Mannen er avdød = The man is deceased

So er connects the subject mannen with the description avdød.

They are close in meaning, but not identical in tone.

• død = dead
• avdød = deceased

Avdød is often more formal, polite, and common in written language, official language, obituaries, or respectful contexts.

Examples:

• Han er død = direct, everyday
• Han er avdød = more formal/respectful

So the difference is mostly about register and tone, not basic meaning.

In this sentence, avdød is used as a predicate adjective after er, and predicate adjectives often appear in their basic form.

So:

• Mannen er avdød
• Kvinnen er avdød

However, when used before a noun, adjective agreement can show up:

• den avdøde mannen = the deceased man
• den avdøde kvinnen = the deceased woman
• de avdøde = the deceased

So the form can change in other structures, but not necessarily in this exact sentence.

Yes. That would be completely natural if the man has already been identified in context.

• Mannen er avdød = The man is deceased
• Han er avdød = He is deceased

Using mannen names the person as the man; using han refers back to him more directly.

It is grammatical and natural, but avdød is a bit formal for casual everyday speech.

In everyday conversation, many people would more often say:

• Han er død
• Mannen er død

You are more likely to see avdød in:

• formal speech
• police reports
• medical or administrative contexts
• obituaries
• respectful written notices

So yes, it is correct, but it sounds more formal than the most common spoken alternative.

The word order is very straightforward:

• Mannen = subject
• er = verb
• avdød = complement/adjective

So the pattern is:

Subject + verb + adjective

This is the normal word order in a simple Norwegian main clause.

In a yes/no question, Norwegian usually puts the verb first:

• Er mannen avdød? = Is the man deceased?

That is a very common Norwegian pattern:

• Han er hjemme → Er han hjemme?
• Mannen er avdød → Er mannen avdød?

You usually put ikke after the verb:

• Mannen er ikke avdød = The man is not deceased

That same pattern appears in many simple sentences:

• Han er ikke her = He is not here
• Hun er ikke syk = She is not ill

So the structure is:

subject + er + ikke + adjective

A learner-friendly approximation is:

• mannen ≈ MAHN-nen

A few useful notes:

• The a in mann is short.
• The double nn makes the preceding vowel short.
• The ending -en is the definite ending and is pronounced clearly, though in natural speech it may sound a bit lighter than in careful pronunciation.

If you already know mann, then mannen is just that word plus the definite ending -en.

A rough learner-friendly guide is:

• avdød ≈ AHV-durth / AHV-død

The exact vowel in død can be difficult for English speakers, because ø does not exist in standard English.

A few points:

• ø is a rounded front vowel.
• It is the same vowel you hear in words like søt, brød, and død.
• If you cannot say it perfectly yet, that is normal—ø takes practice.

The main thing is to recognize avdød as one word with stress generally on the second part.

Yes, but then the form often changes:

• den avdøde mannen = the deceased man
• en avdød person = a deceased person
• de avdøde = the deceased

So compare:

• Mannen er avdød → adjective after the verb
• den avdøde mannen → adjective before the noun

This is useful because learners often meet avdøde in phrases even if the dictionary form they notice is avdød.

Yes. Er avdød describes a state and is understood as permanent in the normal real-world sense.

Just like in English, this is not a temporary condition such as:

• er trøtt = is tired
• er kald = is cold

Instead, it describes the person as no longer living. So semantically it behaves much like English is deceased.

Yes, depending on context.

• Mannen er avdød = The man is deceased / has passed away
• Mannen var avdød = The man was deceased

The present tense er is normal when stating the man’s current status.
The past tense var would be used if you are talking about a past situation, for example in a narrative or report.

Example:

• Da ambulansen kom, var mannen allerede avdød. = When the ambulance arrived, the man was already deceased.