sammenkøre

Sammenkøre is a Danish verb that describes the action of driving to a destination together with one or more other people in the same vehicle, i.e., carpooling. It is commonly used to refer to informal or organized arrangements where participants share a ride to work, school, events, or other regular trips. The term emphasizes collaboration and reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

The word is formed from sammen, meaning “together,” and køre, meaning “to drive.” In Danish usage, the practice is more commonly described with the noun samkørsel (carpooling), while sammenkøre or samkøre may appear as the verbal form in different style guides or regional usage. Spelling can vary, and some sources prefer samkøre as the standard form for both noun and verb, while others use sammenkøre. Dictionaries typically document samkørsel as the common term for the concept, with sammenkøre understood as a related verbal variant.

In transportation planning and corporate mobility programs, samkørsel/sammenkøre is promoted as a means to reduce traffic congestion, lower travel costs for participants, and decrease environmental impact. Challenges include aligning schedules, coordinating pickup points, and ensuring reliability and safety for participants, especially in more formal carpooling arrangements such as those organized by employers or schools.

See also: samkørsel, carpool, ride-sharing. Etymology: from sammen “together” + køre “to drive.”