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 the fall, the days get shorter.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) verkürzen to shorten sth. The tailor is shortening the pants.
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 extend, to lengthen)
Etymology
Composed of 'ver-' (a prefix that can denote a change of state) + 'kurz' (short). The verb means 'to cause to become short'.
Memory Tips
You can clearly see 'kurz' (short) inside 'verkürzen'. The 'ver-' prefix turns the adjective into a verb of action.