sammenfatte

Sammenfatte is a Danish verb that means to summarize or condense information by extracting the main points from a text, discussion, or data and presenting them in a coherent form. It can also imply synthesizing information from multiple sources to form a single overview. In practice, the term is used in education, journalism, and business contexts when a concise presentation of key points is required.

Etymology and forms: sammenfatte is built from sammen- meaning “together” and fatte meaning “to grasp” or “to understand.” Related forms include sammenfatning (a summary) and the adjective sammenfattende (summarizing or concise). The verb emphasizes bringing points together into a cohesive whole, as opposed to simply listing them; in some contexts opsummere is used as a more direct synonym for “to summarize,” focusing on brevity.

Usage and nuances: In academic writing, a sammenfattet section or paragraph presents the essential conclusions drawn from sources. In journalism or business reporting, a sammenfattet overview condenses complex information into a readable synopsis. The term often signals that the writer is not merely repeating details but synthesizing and presenting the core ideas in a distilled form. Example: “Læseren kan sammenfatte hovedpunkterne i kapitlet” translates to “The reader can summarize the main points of the chapter.”