German word

dämpfen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈdɛmp͡fən/

Meaning

  • verbdampen

Example

Die Nachricht dämpfte seine Freude.

The news dampened his joy.

Illustration for dämpfen (dampen)

More examples

Maßnahmen dämpfen oft die Nachfrage.

Measures often dampen demand.

Core concept

A hand turns down a control, making sound, force, or an emotional reaction less intense without removing it.

Common phrases

  • die Nachfrage dämpfen

    dampen demand

  • kritische Stimmen dämpfen

    dampen critical voices

  • die Stimmung dämpfen

    dampen the mood

Similar words

abschwächen: To reduce the strength or impact of an effect or influence.
mildern: To make pain, harshness, or an emotion easier to bear.
unterdrücken: To forcibly restrain a feeling or reaction from being expressed.
vermindern: To reduce the amount or degree of something.

Definition in German

Etwas in Lautstärke, Intensität oder Wirkung weniger stark machen; auch Gefühle oder Erwartungen abschwächen.

Word origin

German dämpfen comes through Middle High German dempfen from an older German form related to Dampf, meaning 'steam', and later developed its broader sense of reducing intensity.

Usage tips

  • As a transitive verb, dämpfen takes an accusative object and can modify feelings and expectations, not just sounds or physical effects.

Other meanings

  • softenverb
  • weakenverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Dämpfungattenuationnoun
  • dämpfenddampeningadjective

Word lists with this word