päälausunto

Päälausunto is a Finnish term that denotes the main conclusion or core statement of a document, report, or spoken discourse. The word combines pää- meaning “main” or “principal” with lausunto meaning “statement” or “opinion.” In practice, päälausunto marks the central finding, recommendation, or decision that a text aims to convey.

The term is most often used in formal contexts such as legal, administrative, or organizational documents. In legal proceedings, the päälausunto may appear as the essential outcome of a ruling or a summary of the court’s position. In investigative reports, policy briefs, and similar documents, it summarizes the key results and provides the primary recommendations to inform further action or decision-making. The usage is characteristic of formal Finnish writing and is less common in everyday speech.

Because the word is formal and somewhat technical, its exact nuance can vary with context. In some instances it functions as a concise recap of conclusions, while in others it serves as the authoritative closing statement that guides interpretation of the entire document. Translators may render it as “main conclusion” or “principal finding,” depending on the surrounding text.

See also: lausunto.