samengaat

Samengaat is a Dutch term linked to the idea of things going together. In standard use, the core notion is that two or more elements are able to combine, cooperate, or harmonize. The expression is most often realized as the two-word verb phrase samen gaan (to go together) or in related forms such as het samengaan (the coming together/merger). The single-word form samengaat appears primarily as the third-person singular present of the verb samengaan or as a form that occurs in older or dialectal texts. In contemporary Dutch, the more common spellings are two separate words or the noun samengaan.

The term covers several semantic ranges. In business or politics, it describes mergers, coalitions, or joint ventures, for example when companies or parties form a partnership: De twee bedrijven gaan samen. In design or cuisine, it can express compatibility—how well components or flavors fit together: deze wijn gaat goed samen met kaas. In a broader sense, it can denote compatibility or coherence between concepts, systems, or processes: het samengaan van technologie en mens centraal.

Etymologically, samengaat derives from samen- “together” and gaan “to go,” reflecting movement toward unity or collaboration. Morphologically, it functions as a compound verb, with variants such as samengaan (infinitive or noun form) and samengaat / gingen samen in conjugated uses.

See also: samenwerken, fusie, coalitie, samenzijn, samenstelling. The term is most useful when describing acts of joining, pairing, or unifying across contexts, from corporate mergers to stylistic harmonies.