schrumpfen

German

Alternative forms

• schrumpen, schrümpfen, schrimpfen (all obsolete)

Etymology

In this form attested since the 17th century. Possibly an alteration of obsolete schrimpfen, from Middle High German schrimpfen, from Proto-Germanic *skrimpaną. The form would have originated in the strong past participle geschrumpfen and through intermediation of the rounded variant schrümpfen (16th c.). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *skrumpōn, a possible derivative of the same verb with an old zero grade. The late attestation speaks against this, though the Middle Dutch iterative schrompelen (compare German schrumpeln) is attested in the 14th century. In this case schrümpfen would be a compromise form.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃrʊm(p)fən/, , , ,

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

schrumpfen (weak, third-person singular present schrumpft, past tense schrumpfte, past participle geschrumpft, auxiliary haben or sein)

1. (intransitive) to shrink, become smaller
   • 2010, Der Spiegel‎, number 25/2010, page 129:

     Zudem schrumpfen in Deutschland die Jahrgänge. Das Angebot an Arbeitnehmern, auch im Top-Bereich, wird bald nicht mehr reichen, um den Bedarf zu decken.

     In addition the age groups are shrinking in Germany. The supply of workers, also in the top region, will soon be no longer sufficient to cover the demand.

2. (intransitive, dated) to shrivel, wrinkle

   Synonym: schrumpeln

3. (transitive) to shrink

Usage notes

• For shrinking of clothes in the wash, use eingehen.

Conjugation

Related terms

• schrumpeln

Further reading

• “schrumpfen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “schrumpfen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “schrumpfen” in Duden online
• “schrumpfen” in OpenThesaurus.de