tusen

Tusen is a word found in Scandinavian languages that signifies the number one thousand. In Norwegian and Swedish, tusen is the standard cardinal for 1,000 and is used in everyday counting as well as in expressions that refer to large quantities. In Norwegian, tusen takk is a common expression of gratitude, roughly translating to “thanks a lot.” In Swedish, tusen is likewise used when counting, as in phrases like två tusen (two thousand).

Etymology and cognates: The word tusen traces back to Old Norse þúsund and shares cognates with other Germanic languages. Its distant relatives include English thousand, German tausend, and Dutch duizend. The form persists in modern Norwegian and Swedish, reflecting their shared Norse heritage.

Usage and context: Beyond its literal meaning, tusen appears in various idiomatic and numerical contexts in Norwegian and Swedish. It is used for large-scale numbers in financial, statistical, and everyday speech, and it forms the basis for related terms such as tusentals (thousands) in both languages.

Notable examples: In Norway, the amusement park Tusenfryd near Oslo derives its name from the same root, meaning “a thousand joys.” This usage illustrates how tusen functions beyond strict mathematics, appearing in place names and branding that evoke abundance or largeness.

See also: Thousand (linguistics), Old Norse language, Scandinavian languages.