French word

diminuer

Pronunciation

IPA/diminɥe/

Meaning

  • verbreduce

Example

Peux-tu diminuer le son, s'il te plaît ?

Can you reduce the volume, please?

Illustration for diminuer (reduce)

More examples

Pour économiser, j'ai diminué mes dépenses ce mois-ci.

To save money, I reduced my expenses this month.

Core concept

A quantity or intensity becoming smaller, whether someone causes the change or the change happens gradually.

Common phrases

  • diminuer le prix

    lower the price

  • diminuer les dépenses

    reduce expenses

  • diminuer la quantité

    reduce the quantity

Similar words

baisser: Lower a height, sound level, or temperature.
réduire: Make a quantity or cost smaller.

Definition in French

Réduire la quantité, l'intensité ou l'importance de quelque chose; s'emploie aussi sans complément pour signifier qu'une chose diminue d'elle-même.

Word origin

French diminuer developed from Latin diminuere, formed from de- and minuere, which is related to minus, meaning less.

Usage tips

  • Diminuer is broad and neutral, while baisser is especially common for levels such as sound or prices and réduire often stresses cutting an amount.

Other meanings

  • decreaseverb
  • lowerverb

Opposites

Related words

  • diminutiondecreasenoun
  • diminuéreducedadjective
  • diminuablereducibleadjective

Word lists with this word