Sinopsis

Sinopsis refers to a concise account of the plot and main elements of a literary or audiovisual work. It provides a quick orientation about the premise, main characters, and key events, and may indicate the work's themes or genre. The term is widely used in Spanish-language contexts and in other languages such as Indonesian; in English-speaking contexts the variant "synopsis" is common. Etymology: from Greek syn- "together" and -opsis "appearance," via Latin synopsis; the two spellings reflect language-specific orthography.

Common forms of sinopsis appear in catalogs, library records, film databases, publisher blurbs, and academic abstracts. A sinopsis can be spoiler-free, offering a general outline without revealing twists, or full, describing the entire plot including the ending. Length varies; short synopses may be 50–150 words; longer ones can reach several hundred words depending on purpose and audience.

Writing guidance for sinopsis emphasizes clarity and neutrality. State the premise, introduce main characters and settings, and summarize major turning points and resolution when appropriate, while indicating the work’s themes or genre. Maintain a neutral tone, avoid subjective judgments, and omit unnecessary detail. Accuracy is important, and the level of detail should be tailored to the intended audience and context, whether for cataloging, marketing, academic analysis, or reader guidance.