schrumpfen
Translation
to shrink, to contract, to dwindle
Examples
Der Pullover ist beim Waschen geschrumpft.
The sweater shrank in the wash.
Die Wirtschaft schrumpft dieses Jahr.
The economy is shrinking this year.
Die Ersparnisse schrumpften auf die Hälfte.
The savings dwindled to half.
Grammar Patterns
(intransitive) to shrink The prices are not shrinking.
((by sth.)) to shrink by sth. The company shrank by 20%.
((to sth.)) to shrink to sth. His fortune shrank to zero.
Similar Words
Synonyms: kleiner werden, sich verringern; Antonyms: wachsen (to grow), sich ausdehnen (to expand)
Etymology
Related to English 'shrimp' (a small creature) and 'scrimp' (to be sparing). The sound itself is onomatopoeic.
Memory Tips
The sound 'schrumpf' sounds like something wrinkling and shrinking, like a raisin or a prune.