German Phrase
Kurz gesagt …
Meaning
The expression “Kurz gesagt” is used to introduce a concise summary or a brief restatement of what has just been said. It signals that the speaker will cut through details and give the essential point. It can be followed by a clause, a sentence, or left hanging for the listener to infer the conclusion.
When to use
Use it when you want to wrap up a longer explanation, when you need to give a quick answer in a conversation, or when you are writing a summary in an email or report. It works both in formal and informal contexts, but in very casual speech you might hear “kurz gesagt” shortened to “kurz gesagt” without a pause.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Kurzgesagt
Adverb + Participle
‘Kurz’ is an adverb meaning ‘shortly’, and ‘gesagt’ is the past participle of ‘sagen’. Together they form an idiomatic fixed expression.
Ellipsis
The three dots (…) indicate that the speaker will continue with the summary; they are optional but common in written German.
🗨In Conversation
Ich habe gestern das neue Projekt vorgestellt, die Ziele erklärt und die nächsten Schritte beschrieben.
I presented the new project yesterday, explained the goals, and described the next steps.
Kurz gesagt: Wir starten in zwei Wochen und brauchen dafür noch drei Entwickler.
In short: We start in two weeks and we still need three developers for it.
✕Common Mistakes
Kurz, gesagt …
Do not separate the two words with a comma; they form a fixed phrase.
Kurz gesagt, was meinst du?
Avoid using “kurz gesagt” before a question; it’s meant for statements.
↔Alternatives
Zusammengefasst …
Summarized …
Um es kurz zu machen …
To make it short …
Kurzum …
In a nutshell …
Cultural Tip
German speakers value clarity and efficiency, so “Kurz gesagt” is a handy tool to show you respect the listener’s time. In business meetings it’s common to pre‑empt a long discussion with “Kurz gesagt” to keep the agenda on track. Avoid overusing it in storytelling, as it can make the narrative feel abrupt.