German Conversation · Level 86
59 words
German word
schrumpfen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈʃʁʊmp͡fn̩/
Meaning
- verbshrink
Example
Die Jacke schrumpft in der Waschmaschine.
The jacket shrinks in the washing machine.
More examples
Nach der Umstellung schrumpft oft die Produktion.
After the changeover, production often shrinks.
Core concept
A material pulls inward, becoming smaller in size or amount, as fabric does after washing.
Common phrases
die Produktion schrumpft
production shrinks
der Umsatz schrumpft
sales decrease
die Kleidung schrumpft
clothing shrinks
Similar words
einlaufen: Fabric or clothing becomes smaller after washing or drying.
abnehmen: An amount or weight becomes smaller.
schwinden: An amount or force gradually diminishes and may disappear.
verkleinern: The size or scope of something is made smaller.
Definition in German
schrumpfen heißt, sich zusammenzuziehen und dadurch an Umfang oder Menge zu verlieren.
Word origin
Schrumpfen is an inherited Germanic verb recorded in Middle High German, with an older sense of contracting that later extended to general decreases.
Usage tips
- Schrumpfen is usually intransitive, while a direct cause is expressed with "schrumpfen lassen" or "etwas schrumpfen lassen".