verkürzen
Translation
to shorten, to reduce, to abridge
Examples
Wir müssen den Text verkürzen.
We have to shorten the text.
Die neuen Maschinen verkürzen die Arbeitszeit.
The new machines reduce the working hours.
Im Herbst verkürzen sich die Tage.
In autumn, the days get shorter.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) verkürzen to shorten sth. The tailor is shortening the trousers.
sich verkürzen to get shorter The days get shorter in winter.
((sth.)) by ((sth.)) verkürzen to shorten sth. by sth. She shortened her speech by five minutes.
Similar Words
Synonyms: kürzen, verringern; Antonyms: verlängern (to lengthen)
Etymology
From 'ver-' (prefix indicating change) + 'kurz' (short) + '-en' (verb ending). Literally 'to make short'.
Memory Tips
The word 'kurz' (short) is right in the middle. The 'ver-' prefix shows the action of *making* something short.