Andenken

Andenken is a German noun meaning a keepsake, memento, or memory that serves to recall a person, place, or event. It can refer to tangible objects—such as photographs, heirlooms, or souvenirs—or to intangible recollections that help preserve the memory of someone or something.

The singular form is das Andenken and the plural is die Andenken. The word is native to German and regarded as a standard term for objects or memories kept in order to remember the past. It is cognate with English remembrance or memorial in the sense of preserving memory, and it appears across German literature and everyday speech.

In usage, Andenken often accompanies phrases such as ein Andenken an jemanden or etwas als Andenken behalten. It is commonly used for physical keepsakes but can also denote internal memories that hold personal significance, such as a travel experience or a familial event. The term thus spans both material objects and subjective recollections.

Related terms include Erinnerung (memory) and Erbstücke for heirlooms. In cultural contexts, museums or memorials may describe items as Andenken to signify their role in preserving collective memory. Overall, Andenken functions as a versatile label for things kept or recalled to honor or remember the past.