German word

Gedanke

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈdaŋkə/

Meaning

  • masculine nounidea

Example

Seine Gedanken sind oft kreativ.

His ideas are often creative.

Illustration for Gedanke (idea)

More examples

Ich möchte einen Gedanken teilen.

I would like to share an idea.

Core concept

A single mental spark takes shape as a thought that can be considered, expressed, or developed into an idea.

Common phrases

  • einen Gedanken teilen

    share an idea

  • einen Gedanken fassen

    get an idea

  • der erste Gedanke

    the first idea

Similar words

Meinung: A personal view or judgment concerning something.
Idee: A concrete proposal for solving a problem or creating something.
Überlegung: A thought developed through deliberate examination.
Einfall: A sudden flash of an idea or inspiration.

Definition in German

Ein einzelner Einfall, eine Vorstellung oder eine Überlegung, die jemandem in den Sinn kommt.

Word origin

Gedanke developed from Old High German gedanc and shares its inherited Germanic root with the verb denken.

Usage tips

  • Gedanke is masculine and takes -n in all singular oblique cases, while the genitive adds -s: des Gedankens.

Other meanings

  • thoughtnoun
  • notionnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • gedanklichmentaladjective
  • gedankenlosthoughtlessadjective

Word lists with this word