récapituler

Récapituler is a French verb meaning to present again in a concise form the main points or sequence of events, i.e., to give a recap or summary of what has been said or done. It is commonly used in formal speech, academic writing, business meetings, and lectures to synthesize information that has already been presented.

Etymology and nuance: the term comes from Latin recapitulare, formed with re- (“again”) and caput, capit- (“head/point”), through Old and modern French development. The sense is to “sum up again,” often with an emphasis on listing or reiterating the key points rather than providing new details.

Usage and grammar: récapituler is a transitive verb, typically used with a direct object: récapituler quelque chose (to recap something) or récapituler ce qui a été dit/affiché. It is common to hear phrases like récapituler les points clés ou récapituler ce qui a été discuté. In style, it leans toward formal or administrative contexts, contrasting with résumer, which covers broader or shorter summaries.

Conjugation: as an -er verb, récapituler follows standard patterns. Present: je récapitule, tu récapitules, il récapitule, nous récapitulons, vous récapitulez, ils récapitulent. Passé composé: j'ai récapitulé. Imperfect: je récapitulais. Subjonctif: que je récapitule, que nous récapitulions. Imperative: récapitule, récapitulons, récapitulez.

Synonyms and contrasts: the closest synonym is résumer, though récapituler often implies enumerating or reiterating the main points in order, sometimes at the conclusion of a discussion.