tankene

Tankene is the definite plural form of the Norwegian noun tanke, meaning thought. The term refers to mental content such as reflections, considerations, and plans that a person holds or contemplates. In Norwegian, tanke can also denote intention or purpose in some contexts, but tankene specifically refer to the thoughts in one’s mind.

In everyday speech and writing, tankene are used to indicate inner dialogue, reflections, or cognitive processes. People say “mine tanker” or “tankene mine” to mean “my thoughts.” Phrases like “å få tankene bort” express a desire to distract or redirect attention. In literature and philosophy, tankene appear in discussions of consciousness, mind, and personal identity, often exploring how thoughts relate to action and experience.

As a linguistic unit, tankene corresponds to the English phrase “the thoughts.” It interacts with related Norwegian terms such as tanker (thoughts more generally or as mental acts) and ideer (ideas). The use of tankene can carry neutral, reflective, or introspective connotations, depending on context, and it is a common component in discourse about cognition, memory, and inner life.