vermindern
Translation
to reduce, to decrease, to diminish, to lessen
Examples
Wir müssen die Kosten vermindern.
We have to reduce the costs.
Die Wirkung des Medikaments vermindert sich.
The effect of the medicine is diminishing.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) vermindern to reduce sth. We must reduce the costs.
sich vermindern to decrease, to diminish The number of students is decreasing.
Similar Words
Synonyms: reduzieren, senken; Antonyms: erhöhen, steigern
Etymology
Composed of 'ver-' (a prefix indicating change) and 'mindern' (to lessen), which comes from 'minder' (less). Essentially 'to cause to be less'.
Memory Tips
Connect 'minder' with the English word 'minus'. The prefix 'ver-' makes it a verb of action: to make something less.