Kuvitelma

Kuvitelma is a Finnish noun that refers to imagination, the faculty or act of forming mental images, ideas, or scenarios that are not present to the senses. It covers everyday daydreams, creative visualization, and imaginative thinking, as well as the ability to envisage possibilities and alternative outcomes.

Etymology and usage notes: Kuvitelma is derived from the verb kuvitella, meaning to imagine, which in turn is built from the root kuva meaning picture or image, combined with a productive derivational suffix. The term is commonly used across Finnish literature, psychology, and everyday speech to describe the mental creation of images, stories, or concepts.

In practice, kuvitelma can denote both harmless or constructive imagination and more speculative or fantastical thoughts. In literature and the arts, it is used to describe imagined scenes, characters, or atmospheres. In psychology and philosophy, it is discussed as a cognitive process involving mental imagery, scenario-building, and creative problem solving, distinct from direct perception. The concept often plays a role in education and storytelling, where fostering kuvitelma can support creativity, narrative skills, and design thinking.

Related ideas in Finnish include the verb kuvitella (to imagine) and, in broader discourse, the exploration of imagination as a cognitive resource in science, art, and daily life. Overall, kuvitelma highlights the human capacity to think beyond immediate reality and to visualize potential futures or alternative worlds.