tenkbare

Tenkbare is a Norwegian adjective meaning thinkable or conceivable, used to describe ideas, possibilities, or propositions that can reasonably be imagined or considered given current knowledge and circumstances. In everyday language it appears in phrases such as tenkbare muligheter, referring to possibilities that can be contemplated.

Etymology and form: The word is formed from the verb tenke, to think, and the suffix -bare, which conveys the sense of “able to be” or “capable of.” This construction is common in Norwegian to describe feasibility or plausibility. The form tenkbare is used to modify nouns, while the related forms might appear in different grammatical contexts.

Cognates and related terms: The concept has close counterparts in other Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish tänkbar and Danish tenkbart or tænkelig, which carry similar meanings related to thinkability or feasibility. These terms are used in similar contexts to discuss what can be imagined or contemplated.

Usage and applications: In philosophy, linguistics, risk assessment, and design thinking, tenkbare ideas are those that can be entertained under given constraints. The distinction between thinkable and unthinkable helps structure analysis, planning, and communication, particularly when assessing futures, options, or policy proposals. The term is commonly used to emphasize practical feasibility alongside theoretical possibility.

See also: tänkbar (Swedish), tænkbart (Danish), feasibility, imagination.