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B1 verb #4,000 mais comum 10 min de leitura

kürzen

Top 4,000

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas kürzen em 30 segundos

Explicação kürzen in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'kürzen' as a simple action related to clothes. Imagine you go to a shop and buy trousers (die Hose) that are too long. You need to make them shorter. This is 'kürzen'. It's a regular verb, so it's easy to conjugate: ich kürze, du kürzt, er kürzt. At this stage, just focus on this physical meaning. You might say 'Ich kürze die Hose' (I shorten the pants). It is a useful word to know if you are shopping or talking about basic tasks at home. You don't need to worry about the mathematical or financial meanings yet. Just think of it as 'making something shorter with scissors or a needle'. It's a very practical word for daily life in Germany, especially if you enjoy fashion or need to describe simple changes to objects. Remember the 'ü' sound—it's like the 'u' in 'pure' but with rounded lips. Practice saying 'Die Hose ist zu lang, ich muss sie kürzen.' This simple sentence uses common A1 vocabulary and introduces the verb in a natural context. You will also see it in very simple instructions. Don't confuse it with 'kurz' (short), which is the adjective. 'Kürzen' is the action you take to make something 'kurz'. It is a 'weak' verb, which means its past forms are predictable and follow the standard pattern you learn early on. This makes it a great verb for beginners to practice their conjugation skills without worrying about irregular changes. Focus on the present tense for now, as that's where you'll use it most often when asking for help in a store or describing what you're doing.

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At the A2 level, you can expand your use of 'kürzen' to include shortening texts or speeches. If you are writing a letter or a small story in your German class and it is too long, your teacher might say, 'Du musst den Text kürzen' (You must shorten the text). This is a common situation for students. You can also start using the preposition 'um' to say how much you are shortening something by. For example, 'Ich kürze den Text um zwei Sätze' (I am shortening the text by two sentences). This adds more detail to your sentences. You should also be familiar with the past tense: 'Ich habe die Hose gekürzt' (I shortened the pants). At A2, you are starting to talk about the past more often, so knowing the 'ge- -t' form is important. You might also hear it in the context of time, like shortening a break or a meeting. 'Wir müssen die Pause kürzen' (We have to shorten the break). This is very common in school or work environments. It's still a very literal word at this level—you are physically or logically taking a piece away to make the whole thing smaller. It's a great word to use when you want to sound more precise than just saying 'kleiner machen' (make smaller). Using 'kürzen' shows you understand the specific action of reducing length or duration. Try to use it in your daily diary or when talking about your hobbies, like if you are a gardener shortening branches or a writer editing your work. It's a versatile verb that fits into many A2 topics like shopping, work, and education.

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By B1, 'kürzen' becomes much more versatile and you will encounter it in professional and academic settings. One of the most important new meanings at this level is in mathematics: 'Brüche kürzen' (to simplify or reduce fractions). If you are taking any technical courses or helping children with homework, you will use this constantly. For example, 'Man kann 4/8 auf 1/2 kürzen.' Beyond math, B1 is the level where you discuss the news and social issues. Here, 'kürzen' is frequently used for budget cuts. You will hear about the government 'die Ausgaben kürzen' (cutting expenses) or a company 'die Gehälter kürzen' (cutting salaries). This is a more abstract use of the word, where it's not about physical length but about numerical value and financial resources. You should also feel comfortable using the passive voice: 'Das Budget wurde gekürzt' (The budget was cut). This is a key B1 grammar point, and 'kürzen' is a perfect verb to practice it with. You might also use it in the context of editing more complex documents or films. 'Der Film wurde für das Fernsehen gekürzt' (The film was shortened for television). At B1, you are expected to understand these different contexts and choose the right one based on the situation. You should also distinguish it clearly from 'abkürzen' (to take a shortcut or abbreviate), which is a common point of confusion. 'Kürzen' is about the reduction of the thing itself, while 'abkürzen' is often about the process or the way you represent the thing. Mastery of 'kürzen' at B1 shows you can handle both concrete and abstract German vocabulary effectively.

At the B2 level, your use of 'kürzen' should reflect a high degree of precision and an understanding of its nuances in professional discourse. You will use it to describe strategic reductions in business, such as 'Prozesse kürzen' (shortening or streamlining processes) to increase efficiency. It's not just about making something smaller anymore; it's about optimization. You will also encounter it in legal and official documents, where rights or benefits might be 'gekürzt' (reduced). For example, 'Die Renten wurden gekürzt' (Pensions were cut). This usage carries significant weight and is a common topic in advanced reading comprehensions and debates. You should be able to use the verb in various tenses and moods, including the Konjunktiv II for hypothetical scenarios: 'Wenn wir das Budget nicht kürzen würden, hätten wir ein Problem' (If we didn't cut the budget, we would have a problem). Furthermore, you should be aware of the noun form 'Kürzung' (the cut/reduction), which is very common at this level. Instead of just saying 'They cut the money,' you might say 'Die Kürzung der Mittel war notwendig' (The reduction of funds was necessary). At B2, you should also be able to compare 'kürzen' with more sophisticated synonyms like 'beschneiden' (to prune/restrict) or 'minimieren' (to minimize). Understanding the subtle difference—that 'kürzen' often implies a linear or numerical reduction while 'beschneiden' might imply a qualitative restriction—is key. You will also see 'kürzen' in more complex mathematical or scientific contexts, referring to the elimination of terms in an equation. Your ability to use 'kürzen' across these diverse and complex fields marks your progression toward fluency.

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At the C1 level, 'kürzen' is used with stylistic flair and in highly specialized contexts. You will encounter it in literary criticism, discussing how an author 'den Text auf das Wesentliche kürzt' (cuts the text down to the essentials), suggesting a mastery of form and economy of language. Here, 'kürzen' isn't just a mechanical act but an artistic one. You should be able to use it to discuss complex economic theories, such as 'die Kürzung von Staatsausgaben zur Inflationsbekämpfung' (the reduction of state spending to combat inflation). In these contexts, the word is part of a sophisticated vocabulary used to analyze and critique social and economic structures. You will also see it in academic writing, particularly in logic or linguistics, where certain elements of a sentence or an argument might be 'gekürzt' for the sake of clarity or formal representation. At C1, you should also be familiar with idiomatic or near-idiomatic expressions involving the word, and how it interacts with prefixes in more complex verbs like 'herauskürzen' (to cross out or cancel out in math/logic). You should also be able to handle the passive and middle voice constructions with ease, understanding how they change the focus of a sentence. For instance, 'Die Rede kürzt sich nicht von allein' (The speech won't shorten itself) uses a reflexive-like construction to emphasize the necessity of action. Your understanding of 'kürzen' at this level should be so deep that you can use it to explain the difference between a necessary reduction and a detrimental loss, often in the context of intense debate or high-level analysis. It becomes a tool for precision in both thought and expression.

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At the C2 level, 'kürzen' is a word you use with total native-like command, often in the most abstract and philosophical ways. You might use it to discuss the 'Kürzung des Lebens' (the shortening of life) in a poetic or existential context, or in deep mathematical proofs where 'das Kürzen von Variablen' (the canceling of variables) is a step in a multi-page derivation. You understand every possible connotation, from the mundane task of a tailor to the high-stakes decisions of a central bank. You can use it in highly formal speeches or academic papers, where the choice of 'kürzen' over 'reduzieren' or 'vermindern' conveys a specific intent—perhaps to emphasize the removal of a specific portion rather than a general decrease in volume. You are also aware of the historical etymology of the word and how it relates to other Germanic languages, giving you a deeper appreciation for its place in the language. In high-level literary translation, you might decide to 'einen Absatz kürzen' to preserve the rhythm and meter of the target language, showing an advanced understanding of how length affects the reader's experience. You can also spot when the word is used ironically or metaphorically in political satire, such as 'den Rotstift ansetzen' (to apply the red pen), which is a common idiom for 'kürzen'. At C2, 'kürzen' is no longer just a verb you learned; it is a versatile instrument in your linguistic orchestra, used to achieve perfect clarity, emphasis, and tone in any situation, no matter how complex or specialized. You can even discuss the 'Kürze' (brevity) as a stylistic ideal, linking the verb back to its root adjective in a sophisticated rhetorical way.

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

kürzen em 30 segundos

Primary meaning: To shorten or reduce length/duration/amount.
Commonly used for tailoring (shortening pants) and editing texts.
Essential in finance for budget cuts and math for simplifying fractions.
A regular weak verb: kürzen, kürzte, hat gekürzt.

The German verb kürzen is a versatile and essential term that primarily translates to "to shorten," "to cut," or "to reduce." At its most basic level, it describes the physical act of making something shorter in length, such as a piece of clothing or a length of rope. However, its utility extends far beyond the physical realm into abstract concepts like time, finances, and mathematics. Understanding kürzen is a gateway to discussing efficiency, economy, and precision in German. Whether you are at a tailor, in a business meeting discussing budget cuts, or in a math class simplifying fractions, this verb is your primary tool. It implies a deliberate action to remove a portion of something to achieve a desired, shorter state.

Physical Dimension: When you buy a pair of trousers that are too long, you take them to a Schneider (tailor) to have them kürzen. This applies to sleeves, skirts, and even hair (though schneiden is more common for hair, kürzen implies a slight trim or specific shortening).

Der Schneider muss die Ärmel des Sakkos um zwei Zentimeter kürzen.

Financial and Abstract Use: In a corporate or political context, kürzen is frequently used to describe budget cuts or the reduction of subsidies. It carries a sense of necessity or austerity. For example, a company might kürzen its spending to stay profitable during a recession.

Wegen der Krise muss die Regierung die Sozialausgaben massiv kürzen.

Furthermore, kürzen is indispensable in the world of media and literature. Editors often have to kürzen articles to fit a specific page count, and film directors might kürzen a scene to improve the pacing of a movie. In these cases, it isn't just about making it smaller, but about making it better by removing the superfluous. It is a regular weak verb, making its conjugation straightforward: kürzte in the Präteritum and gekürzt in the Perfekt. Its usage is widespread across all registers, from daily chores to high-level economic policy discussions.

Der Lektor hat das Manuskript um fünfzig Seiten gekürzt.

Temporal Application: If a meeting is running too long, the chairperson might decide to kürzen the agenda. This means removing items or shortening the time allotted to each to ensure the meeting ends on time.

Wir müssen die Präsentation kürzen, sonst haben wir keine Zeit für Fragen.

Kannst du den Text bitte etwas kürzen? Er ist zu lang für den Blog.

Using kürzen correctly involves understanding its transitive nature—it almost always takes a direct object (Akkusativ). You are always shortening something. The structure is typically [Subject] + [Verb] + [Object]. However, to be more precise, German speakers often include how much something is being shortened by using the preposition um followed by the amount.

The 'Um' Construction: When you specify the exact amount of the reduction, use um. For example: "Ich kürze das Seil um einen Meter" (I am shortening the rope by one meter).

Die Firma hat die Gehälter um zehn Prozent gekürzt.

The 'Auf' Construction: If you want to specify the final result or length, use auf. For example: "Wir müssen den Text auf zwei Seiten kürzen" (We must shorten the text to two pages).

Können Sie das Kleid auf Knielänge kürzen?

In the passive voice, which is common in news reporting regarding financial cuts, the verb takes the sein or werden auxiliary. "Das Budget wurde gekürzt" (The budget was cut). This shifts the focus from who did the cutting to the fact that the cut occurred. In mathematical contexts, the verb is often used in the imperative or as an infinitive: "Kürze den Bruch so weit wie möglich!" (Simplify the fraction as much as possible!). This specific use is vital for students in Germany.

In der Mathematikstunde haben wir gelernt, wie man Brüche kürzt.

Reflexive Potential?: While kürzen is primarily transitive, you might occasionally see it in a reflexive-like context when talking about something shortening itself (though this is rare and usually replaced by schrumpfen or sich verkürzen). Stick to the transitive use for clarity.

Die Arbeitszeit wurde auf 35 Stunden pro Woche gekürzt.

Wenn du die Rede nicht kürzt, wird das Publikum ungeduldig.

The word kürzen is a staple of German daily life and professional discourse. You will hear it in various environments, each providing a slightly different flavor to the word's meaning. In a domestic setting, it's about clothes and hair. In a professional setting, it's about efficiency and budgets. In an educational setting, it's about logic and mathematics.

At the Tailor's (Beim Schneider): This is perhaps the most common physical use. You'll hear: "Könnten Sie mir bitte diese Hose kürzen?" The tailor will then measure and pin the fabric. It's a standard service in any Änderungsschneiderei (alteration shop).

Ich habe mir eine neue Jeans gekauft, aber ich muss sie noch kürzen lassen.

In the News (In den Nachrichten): Listen to the Tagesschau or read the Spiegel, and you'll inevitably encounter kürzen in the context of politics. "Die Regierung plant, die Subventionen für fossile Brennstoffe zu kürzen." Here, it signifies a reduction in financial support.

Wegen des Haushaltslochs müssen viele Ministerien ihre Budgets kürzen.

In schools, children learn to kürzen fractions (Brüche kürzen) as early as the 5th or 6th grade. It's a foundational mathematical skill. In the workplace, if a project is overrunning its deadline, a manager might say, "Wir müssen den Prozess kürzen," meaning they need to find a faster way to finish. It’s also heard in the publishing industry, where editors kürzen texts to fit layouts. Even in sports, if a race track is modified to be shorter due to weather, it is gekürzt.

Der Lehrer erklärte uns an der Tafel, wie man Brüche richtig kürzt.

In Literature and Film: When a book is adapted into a movie, the story must be gekürzt. This process is often called Straffung, but the verb kürzen describes the actual act of cutting out scenes or characters.

Die Kinofassung des Films wurde im Vergleich zum Director's Cut deutlich gekürzt.

Können wir die Wartezeit irgendwie kürzen?

While kürzen seems simple, English speakers often stumble when choosing between it and similar-sounding or similar-meaning verbs. The most common pitfall is the confusion between kürzen and abkürzen. While they both relate to making things shorter, their usage is distinct and usually not interchangeable.

Kürzen vs. Abkürzen: Kürzen is used for physical length (trousers), financial amounts (budgets), and math (fractions). Abkürzen is used for taking a shorter path (a shortcut) or for linguistic abbreviations (like 'Dr.' for 'Doktor'). If you say "Ich muss die Hose abkürzen," it sounds like you're taking a shortcut through your pants!

Richtig: Ich muss den Text kürzen. (Make it shorter) | Falsch: Ich muss den Text abkürzen. (Unless you mean using abbreviations like 'etc.')

Kürzen vs. Schneiden: Schneiden is the general act of cutting with a tool. Kürzen is the result of cutting to make something shorter. You can schneiden a cake (into pieces), but you don't kürzen a cake (unless you're making it physically shorter in length, which would be odd).

Der Friseur schneidet die Haare. (General act) | Der Friseur kürzt die Spitzen. (Shortening the tips specifically).

Another mistake involves the preposition. English speakers often want to use bei or mit when specifying an amount, but German requires um. Saying "Ich kürze es mit 5cm" is incorrect; it must be "um 5cm". Also, be careful with the past participle. Since it's a weak verb, it ends in '-t' (gekürzt), not '-en' (gekürzen is a common error for beginners who over-apply strong verb rules).

Falsch: Das Budget wurde gekürzen. | Richtig: Das Budget wurde gekürzt.

Confusion with 'Reduzieren': While often synonymous, reduzieren is more clinical and often used for prices or weight. Kürzen is more about removing a physical or logical segment. You reduzieren the price of a car, but you kürzen the funding for the car factory.

Ich habe mein Gewicht reduziert. (Not gekürzt!)

Man darf die Zinsen nicht willkürlich kürzen.

To truly master German, you need to know when to use kürzen and when a synonym might be more appropriate. German is a language of precision, and small nuances can change the entire tone of a sentence. Here are some of the most common alternatives and how they compare.

Kürzen vs. Abkürzen: As mentioned, kürzen is for removing a part (making it shorter), while abkürzen is for shortcuts or linguistic abbreviations. Use abkürzen when you want to get somewhere faster or write 'e.g.' instead of 'for example'.

Wir können den Weg durch den Wald abkürzen.

Kürzen vs. Beschneiden: Beschneiden is often used for trees (pruning) or metaphorically for rights and freedoms. It implies a more careful, selective cutting than the more general kürzen. In finance, kürzen is a cut, while beschneiden suggests a restriction of growth or potential.

Die Freiheitsrechte wurden massiv beschnitten.

Another important synonym is streichen. While kürzen means to make something shorter, streichen means to delete or cancel it entirely. If an editor kürzt a paragraph, some of it remains. If they streichen it, it's gone. In budgets, kürzen is a reduction, while streichen is the total removal of funding for a specific project. For mathematical simplification, kürzen is the only correct term.

Die gesamte Subvention wurde aus dem Plan gestrichen.

Kürzen vs. Reduzieren: Reduzieren is more versatile and can be used for prices, weights, and complexity. Kürzen is more specific to length and financial line items. You would reduzieren the volume of your radio, but kürzen the length of a song.

Bitte reduzieren Sie die Geschwindigkeit in der Spielstraße.

Er muss den Text kürzen, damit er in die Spalte passt.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The Latin root 'curtus' also gave us the English word 'curt' (brief to the point of rudeness) and 'curtail'.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ˈkʏʁtsn̩/

US /ˈkʏrtsn̩/

Stress is on the first syllable: KÜR-zen.

Rima com

würzen stürzen schürzen ausmerzen herzen schmerzen kerzen terzen

Erros comuns

Pronouncing 'ü' as 'u' (kurzen), which changes the meaning to the adjective plural.
Missing the 't' sound in the 'ts' cluster.
Over-emphasizing the 'r'.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 2/5

Easy to recognize in context, especially with financial or clothing terms.

Escrita 3/5

Requires remembering the umlaut and the correct preposition 'um'.

Expressão oral 3/5

The 'ü' sound and the 'ts' cluster can be tricky for beginners.

Audição 2/5

Distinguishing 'kürzen' from 'kurzen' is the main challenge.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

kurz schneiden machen lang die Hose

Aprenda a seguir

abkürzen verkürzen die Kürzung reduzieren streichen

Avançado

beschneiden stutzen ausmerzen minimieren

Gramática essencial

Weak Verb Conjugation

kürzen -> kürzte -> gekürzt

Transitive Verbs (Accusative)

Ich kürze den (Akk) Text.

Preposition 'um' for difference

Um 5 Zentimeter kürzen.

Preposition 'auf' for result

Auf eine Seite kürzen.

Passive Voice with 'werden'

Das Budget wird gekürzt.

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Exemplos por nível

Ich muss meine Hose kürzen.

I must shorten my pants.

Simple present tense with modal verb 'müssen'.

Kürzt du den Rock?

Are you shortening the skirt?

Direct question in the present tense.

Der Schneider kürzt das Kleid.

The tailor shortens the dress.

Subject-verb-object structure.

Wir kürzen die Ärmel.

We are shortening the sleeves.

Plural subject 'wir'.

Kürze bitte den Faden!

Please shorten the thread!

Imperative singular form.

Die Hose ist zu lang, wir müssen sie kürzen.

The pants are too long, we must shorten them.

Compound sentence with 'zu' + adjective.

Er kürzt die Haare ein bisschen.

He shortens the hair a little bit.

Use of 'ein bisschen' as an adverbial phrase.

Ich habe die Jeans gekürzt.

I shortened the jeans.

Perfekt tense with 'haben' + 'gekürzt'.

Ich habe den Text um zwei Sätze gekürzt.

I shortened the text by two sentences.

Use of 'um' to indicate the amount of reduction.

Können Sie die Rede etwas kürzen?

Can you shorten the speech a bit?

Polite request with 'können'.

Wir müssen die Wartezeit kürzen.

We need to shorten the waiting time.

Abstract object 'Wartezeit'.

Der Lehrer hat die Hausaufgaben gekürzt.

The teacher shortened the homework.

Perfekt tense.

Die Pause wurde um zehn Minuten gekürzt.

The break was shortened by ten minutes.

Passive voice in the Präteritum.

Ich kürze das Video auf eine Minute.

I am shortening the video to one minute.

Use of 'auf' to indicate the final result.

Warum hast du den Brief gekürzt?

Why did you shorten the letter?

Interrogative sentence in the Perfekt.

Sie kürzt die Blumen für die Vase.

She shortens the flowers for the vase.

Present tense with a purpose phrase.

In Mathe müssen wir heute Brüche kürzen.

In math, we have to simplify fractions today.

Specific mathematical terminology.

Die Firma muss die Kosten drastisch kürzen.

The company must drastically cut costs.

Financial context with adverb 'drastisch'.

Das Budget für das Projekt wurde gekürzt.

The budget for the project was cut.

Passive voice (Zustandspassiv).

Kürzen Sie den Bruch 12/16!

Simplify the fraction 12/16!

Imperative plural/polite form.

Wegen der Krise werden die Subventionen gekürzt.

Because of the crisis, subsidies are being cut.

Passive voice with 'werden'.

Der Regisseur musste den Film für das Kino kürzen.

The director had to shorten the film for the cinema.

Präteritum with modal verb.

Können wir das Treffen auf eine halbe Stunde kürzen?

Can we shorten the meeting to half an hour?

Temporal use with 'auf'.

Ich habe die Liste der Gäste gekürzt.

I shortened the list of guests.

Genitive object 'der Gäste'.

Die Regierung plant, die Sozialleistungen zu kürzen.

The government plans to cut social benefits.

Infinitive construction with 'zu'.

Wir sollten die Arbeitsabläufe kürzen, um Zeit zu sparen.

We should shorten the workflows to save time.

Konjunktiv II for a suggestion.

Das Manuskript war zu lang und musste gekürzt werden.

The manuscript was too long and had to be shortened.

Passive infinitive with modal verb.

Die Bank hat den Kreditrahmen des Kunden gekürzt.

The bank reduced the customer's credit limit.

Specific financial terminology 'Kreditrahmen'.

Man kann diesen Term in der Gleichung einfach kürzen.

One can simply cancel out this term in the equation.

Scientific/mathematical use.

Die Gehälter wurden flächendeckend gekürzt.

Salaries were cut across the board.

Adverb 'flächendeckend' (comprehensive/across the board).

Es ist schwierig, ein so komplexes Thema zu kürzen.

It is difficult to shorten such a complex topic.

Adjective + infinitive construction.

Haben Sie die Zinsen bereits gekürzt?

Have you already reduced the interest?

Perfekt tense with 'bereits'.

Die Sparmaßnahmen sehen vor, die Forschungsgelder zu kürzen.

The austerity measures provide for cutting research funds.

Use of 'vorsehen' (to provide/plan).

Der Autor kürzte den Roman radikal auf das Wesentliche.

The author radically cut the novel down to the essentials.

Stylistic use with 'radikal' and 'das Wesentliche'.

Es gab heftige Proteste, als die Renten gekürzt wurden.

There were violent protests when pensions were cut.

Temporal clause with 'als'.

In der Physik lassen sich bestimmte Variablen oft herauskürzen.

In physics, certain variables can often be canceled out.

Reflexive 'lassen sich' construction for possibility.

Die Kürzung der Fördermittel bedroht die Existenz des Theaters.

The reduction of funding threatens the theater's existence.

Noun form 'Kürzung' as the subject.

Man sollte die Argumentation nicht unnötig kürzen.

One should not shorten the argument unnecessarily.

Negative modal construction.

Die Sendezeit wurde aufgrund aktueller Ereignisse gekürzt.

The airtime was shortened due to current events.

Prepositional phrase with 'aufgrund' + genitive.

Durch das Kürzen der Lieferkette konnten wir Kosten sparen.

By shortening the supply chain, we were able to save costs.

Gerund-like use of the infinitive 'das Kürzen'.

Die drakonische Kürzung der Bildungsbudgets löste eine Bildungskrise aus.

The draconian cutting of education budgets triggered an education crisis.

Advanced adjective 'drakonisch' and complex noun phrase.

In seinem Spätwerk kürzte der Dichter seine Verse bis zur Wortkargheit.

In his late work, the poet shortened his verses to the point of taciturnity.

Highly literary vocabulary ('Wortkargheit').

Es ist eine Kunst, eine Symphonie zu kürzen, ohne ihre Seele zu zerstören.

It is an art to shorten a symphony without destroying its soul.

Infinitive clause with 'ohne... zu'.

Die Variablen küzten sich in der Endgleichung auf wundersame Weise heraus.

The variables canceled each other out in the final equation in a miraculous way.

Reflexive use 'sich herauskürzen'.

Die systemimmanente Notwendigkeit, Ausgaben zu kürzen, wird oft unterschätzt.

The systemic necessity to cut spending is often underestimated.

Sophisticated compound adjective 'systemimmanent'.

Kürzen wir die Debatte ab und kommen wir direkt zum Kernpunkt.

Let's cut the debate short and get straight to the core point.

Imperative with 'wir' (let's).

Eine radikale Kürzung der Privilegien stieß auf erbitterten Widerstand.

A radical reduction of privileges met with bitter resistance.

Noun phrase with 'stoßen auf' + accusative.

Die zeitliche Kürzung der Probezeit bedarf einer schriftlichen Vereinbarung.

The temporal shortening of the probationary period requires a written agreement.

Formal verb 'bedürfen' + genitive.

Colocações comuns

das Budget kürzen

die Hose kürzen

einen Bruch kürzen

einen Text kürzen

die Ausgaben kürzen

die Sendezeit kürzen

die Rede kürzen

Subventionen kürzen

die Arbeitszeit kürzen

die Zinsen kürzen

Frases Comuns

etwas um die Hälfte kürzen

— To cut something by half.

Das Budget wurde um die Hälfte gekürzt.

auf das Wesentliche kürzen

— To cut down to the essentials.

Man muss den Bericht auf das Wesentliche kürzen.

drastisch kürzen

— To cut drastically.

Die Mittel wurden drastisch gekürzt.

willkürlich kürzen

— To cut arbitrarily.

Man darf die Leistungen nicht willkürlich kürzen.

nachträglich kürzen

— To shorten something after the fact.

Der Film wurde für das Fernsehen nachträglich gekürzt.

radikal kürzen

— To cut radically.

Er hat das Manuskript radikal gekürzt.

die Liste kürzen

— To shorten the list.

Wir müssen die Liste der Bewerber kürzen.

den Rotstift ansetzen

— To start making cuts (idiomatic).

Der Finanzminister muss den Rotstift ansetzen.

um ein paar Zentimeter kürzen

— To shorten by a few centimeters.

Können Sie die Ärmel um ein paar Zentimeter kürzen?

die Wartezeit kürzen

— To shorten the waiting time.

Neue Maschinen sollen die Wartezeit kürzen.

Frequentemente confundido com

kürzen vs abkürzen

Abkürzen is for shortcuts or abbreviations; kürzen is for removing a part to make it shorter.

kürzen vs verkürzen

Verkürzen often implies something becoming shorter naturally or a more abstract shortening of time.

kürzen vs schneiden

Schneiden is the general act of cutting; kürzen is the specific intent to shorten.

Expressões idiomáticas

"den Rotstift ansetzen"

— Literally 'to apply the red pen', this means to make financial cuts or edit a text heavily.

Bei den Sozialausgaben wurde der Rotstift angesetzt.

journalistic

"kurzen Prozess machen"

— To deal with something quickly and decisively (often ruthlessly). Note: uses the adjective root.

Die Polizei machte mit den Dieben kurzen Prozess.

informal

"den Gürtel enger schnallen"

— To tighten one's belt (related to budget cuts).

Wir müssen den Gürtel enger schnallen und das Budget kürzen.

idiomatic

"die Flügel stutzen"

— To clip someone's wings (to restrict their power).

Der neue Chef hat ihm die Flügel gestutzt.

metaphorical

"Tabula rasa machen"

— To make a clean sweep (often involving radical cuts).

Er hat Tabula rasa gemacht und das Team gekürzt.

formal

"über die Klinge springen lassen"

— To sacrifice something (often a project or position during cuts).

Das Projekt musste über die Klinge springen lassen.

idiomatic

"den Kahlschlag üben"

— To carry out radical clear-cutting (usually of jobs or services).

Die Opposition kritisiert den Kahlschlag bei den Bildungsbudgets.

political

"auf Diät setzen"

— To put on a diet (metaphorically for a budget).

Das Ministerium wurde auf Diät gesetzt.

informal

"einen Riegel vorschieben"

— To put a stop to something (often preventing further spending).

Der Finanzminister schob den Mehrausgaben einen Riegel vor.

idiomatic

"kurz und bündig"

— Short and sweet / concise.

Er erklärte es kurz und bündig.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

kürzen vs kurzen

Looks identical except for the umlaut.

Kurzen is a form of the adjective 'kurz'; kürzen is the verb 'to shorten'.

Mit den kurzen (adj) Haaren muss er sie nicht mehr kürzen (verb).

kürzen vs reduzieren

Similar meaning of 'making less'.

Reduzieren is broader (price, weight); kürzen is specific to length, math, or budget lines.

Ich reduziere den Preis, aber ich kürze den Text.

kürzen vs stutzen

Both involve cutting to shorten.

Stutzen is for trimming (hair, hedges); kürzen is for shortening (pants, budgets).

Er stutzt die Hecke und kürzt sein Budget.

kürzen vs abnehmen

Both imply a reduction.

Abnehmen is to lose weight or decrease in volume; kürzen is to actively shorten a dimension.

Der Vorrat nimmt ab, aber wir kürzen die Ration.

kürzen vs streichen

Both used in budgets.

Streichen is to delete/cancel entirely; kürzen is to reduce.

Die Stelle wurde gestrichen, aber das Gehalt nur gekürzt.

Padrões de frases

[Subjekt] [kürzen] [Akkusativ-Objekt].

Ich kürze die Hose.

[Subjekt] [kürzen] [Objekt] um [Menge].

Er kürzt den Text um zwei Zeilen.

[Objekt] [werden] [gekürzt].

Die Ausgaben werden gekürzt.

[Subjekt] [planen], [Objekt] zu [kürzen].

Die Firma plant, die Kosten zu kürzen.

Durch das [Kürzen] von [Genitiv]...

Durch das Kürzen der Mittel...

[Subjekt] [kürzen] sich [heraus].

Die Fehler kürzen sich im System heraus.

[Imperativ] [Objekt] auf [Maß]!

Kürze den Bruch auf den kleinsten Nenner!

[Subjekt] [haben] [Objekt] [gekürzt].

Wir haben das Treffen gekürzt.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

die Kürzung

die Abkürzung

die Kürze

der Kurze

das Kurzfutter

Verbos

abkürzen

verkürzen

einkürzen

herauskürzen

Adjetivos

kurz

kürzer

gekürzt

kurzzeitig

kurzfristig

Relacionado

die Kurzgeschichte

die Kurzwaren

der Kurzschluss

das Kurzzeitgedächtnis

die Kurzatmigkeit

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Como usar

frequency

Very high in news, education, and tailoring.

Erros comuns

Ich muss die Hose abkürzen. → Ich muss die Hose kürzen.
'Abkürzen' is for shortcuts or abbreviations. 'Kürzen' is for physical shortening.
Das Budget wurde gekurzt. → Das Budget wurde gekürzt.
Don't forget the umlaut in the past participle of 'kürzen'.
Ich kürze den Text bei zwei Seiten. → Ich kürze den Text auf zwei Seiten.
Use 'auf' to indicate the final length/result.
Er hat die Haare gekürzt. → Er hat die Haare geschnitten.
While 'gekürzt' is possible for a trim, 'geschnitten' is the standard for haircuts.
Wir kürzen den Preis. → Wir reduzieren den Preis.
'Kürzen' is not typically used for prices of goods; use 'reduzieren' or 'senken'.

Dicas

Regular Conjugation

Don't overthink it! Kürzen is a regular weak verb. Just add -te for past and -t for the participle.

Tailor Talk

When at a German tailor, 'Könnten Sie das bitte kürzen?' is the most important phrase you'll need.

Fraction Action

If you see 'Kürze!' in a math book, it means simplify the fraction to its lowest terms.

Budget Cuts

In news, 'Budgetkürzungen' always refers to cutting funds, never to shortening the physical document.

Text Editing

If your German essay is too long, tell your teacher: 'Ich werde den Text noch etwas kürzen.'

The Umlaut Matters

Make sure to pronounce the 'ü'. 'Kurzen' (without dots) is an adjective form; 'kürzen' is the verb.

Use 'um' for amounts

Always use 'um' to say by how much you shortened something: 'um 10 Prozent kürzen'.

Use 'auf' for goals

Use 'auf' to state the final length: 'den Text auf eine Seite kürzen'.

Kürzen vs. Abkürzen

Remember: Kürzen = making shorter. Abkürzen = shortcut or abbreviation.

Professional Tone

Using 'kürzen' in a business context sounds decisive and professional when talking about efficiency.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'CURtains' that are too long—you need to 'KÜRzen' them. Both start with a similar 'K/C' sound and deal with shortening fabric.

Associação visual

Imagine a pair of scissors (the 'ü' dots look like the finger holes of scissors) cutting a long line into a short one.

Word Web

Hose Budget Bruch Text Zeit Schneiden Kurz Reduzieren

Desafio

Write three things in your life you would like to 'kürzen' (e.g., your commute, your to-do list, your long hair).

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Old High German 'kurzen', which comes from the adjective 'kurz'.

Significado original: To make short.

Germanic (Indo-European). Related to English 'short' and Latin 'curtus'.

Contexto cultural

Be careful when discussing 'Gehaltskürzungen' (salary cuts) or 'Rentenkürzungen' (pension cuts), as these are sensitive social issues.

English speakers often use 'cut' or 'shorten' interchangeably, but German uses 'kürzen' more specifically for length and math.

The phrase 'In der Kürze liegt die Würze' (Brevity is the soul of wit). Mathematical textbooks (Mathematik für die Realschule). Financial reports of the DAX companies.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Tailoring

die Hose kürzen
die Ärmel kürzen
um zwei Zentimeter kürzen
kürzen lassen

Mathematics

einen Bruch kürzen
durch eine Zahl kürzen
vollständig kürzen
sich herauskürzen

Finance/Business

das Budget kürzen
die Ausgaben kürzen
Gehälter kürzen
Mittel kürzen

Editing/Writing

einen Text kürzen
die Rede kürzen
auf eine Seite kürzen
radikal kürzen

Time Management

die Wartezeit kürzen
das Treffen kürzen
die Pause kürzen
Prozesse kürzen

Iniciadores de conversa

"Könnten Sie mir diese Hose bis morgen kürzen?"

"Glaubst du, wir müssen den Text für die Präsentation noch kürzen?"

"Hat die Regierung das Budget für Bildung wirklich gekürzt?"

"Wie kürzt man diesen komplizierten Bruch am besten?"

"Sollten wir die Arbeitszeit kürzen, um mehr Freizeit zu haben?"

Temas para diário

Beschreibe eine Situation, in der du etwas kürzen musstest (z.B. einen Aufsatz oder Kleidung).

Was würdest du tun, wenn dein Arbeitgeber dein Gehalt um 10% kürzen würde?

Warum ist es in der Mathematik wichtig, Brüche zu kürzen?

Gibt es Dinge in deinem Alltag, die du gerne kürzen würdest, um Zeit zu sparen?

Diskutiere die Vor- und Nachteile von Budgetkürzungen im öffentlichen Dienst.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

Yes, but usually only for 'trimming' or shortening the ends. 'Schneiden' is much more common for a general haircut. You would say 'die Spitzen kürzen' (shorten the tips).

'Kürzen' means to make the object itself shorter (like pants or a budget). 'Abkürzen' means to take a shortcut on a path or to use an abbreviation (like 'Dr.' for 'Doktor').

It specifically means to simplify fractions. For example, 'Man kann 6/9 mit 3 kürzen, um 2/3 zu erhalten.' (You can simplify 6/9 by 3 to get 2/3.)

It is a weak verb. This means it follows the regular pattern: kürzen, kürzte, hat gekürzt. There are no stem vowel changes.

Usually, we use 'reduzieren' or 'senken' for prices. 'Kürzen' is used for budgets or financial support (subsidies), not the price tag of an item.

No, 'kürzen' is a transitive verb and takes the accusative case for the object being shortened.

Use 'um' for the amount of reduction (um 5cm) and 'auf' for the final result (auf 10cm).

Yes, if you mean you are editing it to make it shorter. It is a common term in publishing.

The noun is 'die Kürzung' (the cut/reduction) or 'das Kürzen' (the act of shortening).

Yes, you can 'eine Rede kürzen' or 'die Wartezeit kürzen'. However, for shortening a general duration, 'verkürzen' is also very common.

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