kokkuvõtvalt

Kokkuvõtvalt is an Estonian adverb meaning “in summary” or “briefly.” It is used to introduce a concise restatement of information that has been presented or to signal a conclusion drawn from it. The word helps mark a shift from detail to an overarching takeaway and is commonly found in both spoken and written Estonian.

Etymology and form: Kokkuvõtvalt is derived from the verb kokkuvõtta/kokkuvõtma, meaning “to summarize,” with the adverbial suffix -valt. The form literally conveys doing something in a summarized or condensed manner.

Usage: The adverb is versatile but most often appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause to indicate that what follows will be a brief synthesis. It is frequent in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as academic writing, reports, and journalism, but can appear in careful speech as well. It sits alongside other summarizing expressions like lühidalt or kokkuvõttes, each carrying slightly different nuance.

Nuances: Kokkuvõtvalt emphasizes the manner of summarization—the act of presenting a condensed overview—whereas kokkuvõttes tends to foreground an overall conclusion. In practice, the two can often be interchangeable, though the choice may affect tone and emphasis.

Examples:

- Kokkuvõtvalt võib öelda, et projekt on edukas.

- Kokkuvõtvalt käis raport läbi kolm peamist põhjust, miks eesmärk ei õnnestunud.

Related terms: The noun kokkõvõte means a summary, while other forms related to summarizing exist (e.g., kokkuvõtmine) to express related ideas in different grammatical roles.