abstraktem

Abstraktem is a term encountered in some linguistic and philosophical writings to denote a class of words that express abstract concepts rather than concrete objects. In this usage, an abstraktem is essentially an abstract noun or a related abstract term, distinguished from concrete nouns that refer to perceivable things.

Etymology and usage notes. The form abstraktem derives from a Latin-influenced tradition that labels abstract concepts with a distinct noun category. Modern English linguistics typically uses the phrase abstract noun rather than abstraktem, and the exact labeling varies by tradition and language. In some grammars, abstraktem is discussed alongside concrete nouns to emphasize the cognitive distinction between abstract ideas (like justice or freedom) and tangible entities (like stone or tree).

Characteristics. Abstract terms generally refer to properties, states, qualities, or ideas rather than physical objects or senses. They are often non-visual, can be highly general, and may interact with determiners and pluralization in ways that differ from concrete nouns. In many languages, abstract nouns can function as the subject or object of clauses, form part of noun phrases with determiners, and participate in nominalizations and verbal abstractions.

Examples. Words such as freedom, truth, justice, and intelligence are commonly cited as abstraktem in discussions of abstract nouns. In contrast, concrete nouns like chair, dog, and rain denote tangible referents. Some languages treat certain abstract concepts differently in morphology, pluralization, or article use compared with concrete nouns.

See also. Abstract noun, concrete noun, semantic category, lexical class, morphology.