recapitular

Recapitular is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese to mean to summarize or restate the main points of something that has been discussed or read. In English, the cognate is recapitulate, sharing the general sense of presenting a concise account of what has been said. The term is common in formal, academic, and professional contexts.

Etymology and sense. Recapitular derives from Latin recapitulari, formed from re- (again) and a root related to caput (head) or caputulum (a small head or section). The sense evolved toward “taking up again” the essential points or chapters of a text or discussion, i.e., bringing together the key ideas for a renewed or summarized presentation.

Usage. In Spanish, recapitular is a transitive verb used to describe the act of summarizing or reviewing a set of points. It is frequent in lectures, reports, meetings, and written analyses. Example: Vamos a recapitular los puntos principales. In Portuguese, the verb is used similarly, with the same emphasis on presenting a brief restatement of core ideas. The noun form related to this idea is used in both languages to denote the act or result of summarizing.

Comparison and related terms. Recapitular is distinguishable from resumir (to summarize) in its emphasis on restating the main points rather than simply shortening text, though the two are closely related. Other related concepts include sintetizar (to synthesize) and, in English, recapitulation or summary, with recap as a common informal variant.

See also. Recapitulation; Summary; Recap; Resumen.