Notaterne

Notaterne is a linguistic term used in Danish and Norwegian to refer to notes or memos, specifically the definite plural form of the noun notat. In everyday usage, notaterne denote brief written records that summarize information, decisions, or ideas and can be produced in educational, professional, or administrative contexts.

The word notat itself comes from Latin nota, meaning mark or note, and entered Scandinavian languages through historical language contact. Notaterne are typically distinguished from related terms by their function as concise records intended to aid memory or decision-making, rather than full narrative documents.

In practice, notaterne appear in various settings. In education, students use them to capture key points from lectures or readings. In the workplace or public administration, notaterne summarize meetings, research results, or briefing points and may serve as a precursor to formal documentation. For more formal documentation of a gathering, the terms referat or møtereferat are often used, but notater are common for shorter or informal summaries.

Form and usage can vary by country and dialect. The indefinite plural form is usually notater, while the definite plural is notaterne in Danish; in Norwegian Bokmål a corresponding definite plural form is often notatene. Regardless of variant, notaterne function as practical tools for organizing information and guiding subsequent actions. See also notat, referat, and møtereferat.