Omtanken

Omtanken is a Swedish noun that denotes care, consideration, or thoughtfulness toward other people. It refers to the mental attitude of taking others’ needs and feelings into account and acting with empathy. In everyday usage it appears in phrases such as “visa omtanke” (show consideration) or “omtanke för andra” (care for others). In public discourse, omtanken can describe social responsibility or the moral climate of a group or organization.

Etymology and form: The word is built from the noun tanke (thought) with the prefix om-, and the definite singular form is omtanken. It is often treated as an uncountable concept in discourse, though it can be discussed in plural senses when referring to multiple instances of consideration.

Relationship to related terms: Omtanke is closely related to omtänksamhet (the quality of being considerate) and to hänsyn (regard or consideration). It differs from omsorg (care) in that omtanke emphasizes attitude and mindset, whereas omsorg more directly denotes concrete acts of care.

Usage notes: In Swedish, omtanke is valued as a social virtue and is commonly invoked in personal conversations, journalism, and political or organizational rhetoric to promote solidarity and mutual support. It serves as a concept that links individual empathy to collective wellbeing.

See also: omtänksamhet, omsorg, hänsyn.