Reduction in Different Languages
Discover 'Reduction' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'reduction' carries a significant weight in various contexts, denoting the act of diminishing or simplifying something. Its cultural importance is evident in fields like culinary arts, where a reduction sauce is prepared by simmering a liquid to concentrate its flavors. Similarly, in economics, a reduction in prices can drive up demand, influencing market dynamics.
Given the term's wide-ranging implications, understanding its translation in different languages can be beneficial. For instance, in Spanish, 'reduction' becomes 'reducción,' while in French, it's 'réduction.' In German, the term transforms into 'Reduktion,' and in Japanese, it's '減少 (genshō).'
Interestingly, the concept of reduction has been pivotal in numerous historical contexts. In algebraic geometry, reduction techniques have been used to solve complex equations. Meanwhile, in environmental studies, reduction of waste and carbon footprints is a pressing global issue.
Explore the many faces of 'reduction' in various languages and cultures, as you delve into the list below.
Reduction
Reduction in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | vermindering | ||
| The word 'vermindering' shares its root with 'vermeerdering' (increase), both originating from 'vermenigvuldigen' (multiply). | |||
| Amharic | መቀነስ | ||
| In Amharic, the word "መቀነስ" can also refer to "making a deduction" or "becoming cheaper." | |||
| Hausa | raguwa | ||
| The Hausa word "raguwa" can also refer to the residue or sediment left after something settles or precipitates. | |||
| Igbo | mbelata | ||
| In Igbo, the word "mbelata" can also refer to a process of refining or purifying substances, or to the act of bringing something down or causing it to diminish. | |||
| Malagasy | fampihenana | ||
| The Malagasy word "fampihenana" can also mean "diminution" or "subtraction". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuchepetsa | ||
| The word 'kuchepetsa' also means 'to shorten' or 'to make shorter' in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | rutapudzo | ||
| The word "rutapudzo" in Shona can also refer to the process of breaking and dividing objects into smaller parts. | |||
| Somali | yaraynta | ||
| Yaraynta is used in Somali to refer to the reduction of something, from its original size or quantity, as well as a decline in health or strength. | |||
| Sesotho | phokotso | ||
| The word 'phokotso' is also used in the sense of 'to make smaller' or 'to diminish'. | |||
| Swahili | kupunguza | ||
| The word "kupunguza" in Swahili also means "to alleviate" or "to diminish". | |||
| Xhosa | ukunciphisa | ||
| An alternate meaning of "ukunciphisa" that is no longer widely used: to crush or mash something. | |||
| Yoruba | idinku | ||
| "Idinku" in Yoruba can also refer to the act of diminishing or making something inferior. | |||
| Zulu | ukunciphisa | ||
| Ukunciphisa can also mean 'shortening', 'lessening' or 'to abate'. | |||
| Bambara | dɔgɔyali | ||
| Ewe | dzi ɖeɖe kpɔtɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | kugabanuka | ||
| Lingala | kokitisa yango | ||
| Luganda | okukendeeza | ||
| Sepedi | phokotšo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | tew a wɔtew so | ||
Reduction in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | تخفيض | ||
| The word "تخفيض" has meanings such as "discount" as well as "lowering, humiliation, degradation, and demerit". | |||
| Hebrew | צִמצוּם | ||
| The term צִמצוּם "reduction" relates to the mystical concept of Tzimtzum, God's withdrawal to create space for the world. | |||
| Pashto | کمول | ||
| The Pashto word "کمول" also refers to a type of cloth used as a covering or a shawl. | |||
| Arabic | تخفيض | ||
| The word "تخفيض" has meanings such as "discount" as well as "lowering, humiliation, degradation, and demerit". | |||
Reduction in Western European Languages
| Albanian | zvogëlimi | ||
| The word "zvogëlimi" etymologically relates to "zvog" meaning "small" and "-im" denoting an action or state, thus implying "the act of making something smaller". | |||
| Basque | murrizketa | ||
| The word "murrizketa" in Basque comes from the Latin word "mortis" (death), and can also mean "destruction" or "annihilation". | |||
| Catalan | reducció | ||
| The Catalan word "reducció" also means "settlement" or "outpost" and derives from the Latin "reductĭo" meaning "a bringing back". | |||
| Croatian | smanjenje | ||
| The word 'smanjenje' ('reduction') in Croatian also has the alternate meaning of 'discount' or 'sale'. | |||
| Danish | reduktion | ||
| The Danish word "reduktion" can also refer to a form of shorthand used in stenography. | |||
| Dutch | vermindering | ||
| The Dutch word "vermindering" is a combination of the verb "minderen" (to reduce) and the noun "dering" (a diminution). | |||
| English | reduction | ||
| The word 'reduction' derives from the Latin 'reducere', meaning 'to bring back' or 'to restore'. | |||
| French | réduction | ||
| The word 'réduction' also means 'discount' in French. | |||
| Frisian | ferleging | ||
| The word "ferleging" in Frisian shares its etymology with the Dutch word "verlaging" meaning "lowering". | |||
| Galician | redución | ||
| In Galician, reduction also means settlement or town, as in 'Montevideo foi unha redución fundada polos xesuítas' (Montevideo was a settlement founded by the Jesuits). | |||
| German | die ermäßigung | ||
| The word 'Ermäßigung' in German can also mean 'allowance' or 'concession'. | |||
| Icelandic | lækkun | ||
| While "lækkun" means reduction in Icelandic, it can also be an expression used to describe the reduction of milk to produce cream and skim milk. | |||
| Irish | laghdú | ||
| "Laghdú" can also refer to a period of time, especially one that is spent in prison. | |||
| Italian | riduzione | ||
| The Italian word 'riduzione' can also refer to an abridged version of an opera or other musical work. | |||
| Luxembourgish | reduktioun | ||
| Derived from the French word "reduction". Also refers to a "discount". | |||
| Maltese | tnaqqis | ||
| The term 'tnaqqis' derives from the Arabic root 'naqasa', meaning to decrease or diminish. | |||
| Norwegian | reduksjon | ||
| The word 'reduksjon' comes from the Latin word 'reducere', meaning 'to lead back'. In Norwegian, it can also refer to a 'discount' or 'sale'. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | redução | ||
| Originating from the Latin word "reductiō," the Portuguese word "redução" can also refer to rural indigenous settlements established by Jesuit missionaries in colonial Brazil. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | lughdachadh | ||
| The name "lughdachadh" is also applied to the process of reducing a fracture or dislocation. | |||
| Spanish | reducción | ||
| In Ecuador, "reducción" can mean a small indigenous village, and in Mexico it can refer to a hacienda or large farm. | |||
| Swedish | minskning | ||
| The word minskning is derived from the verb minska, which means to decrease or diminish. | |||
| Welsh | gostyngiad | ||
| The term 'gostyngiad' may derive from either 'costegi' or 'costungi' and the verb 'costwng' ('to lower'). | |||
Reduction in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | скарачэнне | ||
| Bosnian | smanjenje | ||
| The word "smanjenje" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *sъmьnъjьiti, meaning "to reduce in size, quantity, or value." | |||
| Bulgarian | намаляване | ||
| The Bulgarian word "намаляване" can also mean "discounts", "markdown" or "sales" in English. | |||
| Czech | redukce | ||
| In Czech, "redukce" can also refer to a reducer, adapter, or a socket or plug adapter | |||
| Estonian | vähendamine | ||
| "Vähendamine" also means "diminishing" or "decrement" in English. | |||
| Finnish | vähentäminen | ||
| 'Vähentäminen' is cognate with the words 'vähi' (little) and 'vähäinen' (small). | |||
| Hungarian | csökkentés | ||
| The Hungarian word "csökkentés" can also mean "remission" or "discount". | |||
| Latvian | samazināšana | ||
| The word "samazināšana" in Latvian is derived from the word "samazināt," which means "to decrease" or "to lessen." | |||
| Lithuanian | sumažinimas | ||
| In some contexts, "sumažinimas" can also mean "disparagement" or "devaluation" of something. | |||
| Macedonian | намалување | ||
| The word "намалување" in Macedonian can also mean "discount" or "sale." | |||
| Polish | zmniejszenie | ||
| The Polish word "zmniejszenie" can also be used to refer to the process of shrinking or making something smaller. | |||
| Romanian | reducere | ||
| In Romanian, "reducere" can mean either "reduction" or "discount" depending on context. | |||
| Russian | сокращение | ||
| The word "сокращение" can also refer to a "shortening" or "abbreviation". | |||
| Serbian | смањење | ||
| The word "смањење" in Serbian also means "abatement", "decline", and "depreciation". | |||
| Slovak | zníženie | ||
| The Slovak word "zníženie" can also refer to a discount or a decrease in size. | |||
| Slovenian | zmanjšanje | ||
| Zmanjšanje is the Slovene word for 'reduction,' meaning either a lessening in size or a decrease in quantity. | |||
| Ukrainian | скорочення | ||
| The word "скорочення" has several meanings in Ukrainian, including "abbreviation," "shortening," and "curtailment." | |||
Reduction in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | হ্রাস | ||
| হ্রাস can also mean 'loss', 'dwindling', 'deterioration', or 'decay' in the context of quantity, quality, or value. | |||
| Gujarati | ઘટાડો | ||
| The word "ઘટાડો" can also mean a discount or the difference between two values. | |||
| Hindi | कमी | ||
| "कमी" can also mean "lack" or "deficiency" in Hindi. | |||
| Kannada | ಕಡಿತ | ||
| "ಕಡಿತ" also refers to a cut, or reduction in the number or size of something. | |||
| Malayalam | കുറയ്ക്കൽ | ||
| The word "kuraikkal" in Malayalam refers to a process of diminishing or making something smaller, and it can also denote a method of subtraction or deduction. | |||
| Marathi | कपात | ||
| The Marathi word "कपात" ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word "कप" (to cut). | |||
| Nepali | कमी | ||
| The Nepali word "कमी" can also mean "lack" or "shortage". | |||
| Punjabi | ਕਮੀ | ||
| It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'karma' meaning 'action' or 'deed'. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අඩු | ||
| The word "අඩු" in Sinhala can also refer to a shortage or a deficit. | |||
| Tamil | குறைப்பு | ||
| The word 'குறைப்பு' also means 'discount' or 'deduction' in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | తగ్గింపు | ||
| Urdu | کمی | ||
| The word "کمی" is also used to refer to a small quantity or amount. | |||
Reduction in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 减少 | ||
| The character '减' (jiǎn) in '减少' (jiǎnshǎo) originally meant 'to cut off', suggesting the act of removing or subtracting something. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 減少 | ||
| The word "減少" can also mean "to make something disappear" or "to die out." | |||
| Japanese | 削減 | ||
| The word "削減" (sakugen) can also mean "deduction" or "deduction of money". | |||
| Korean | 절감 | ||
| In addition to "reduction," 절감 means "to save (money, etc.)"} | |||
| Mongolian | бууруулах | ||
| It is a derivative of the verb "буурах" (to decrease, to lower), which in turn comes from the Proto-Mongolic verb "*bu-/*bö-" with the same meaning. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | လျှော့ချရေး | ||
Reduction in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | pengurangan | ||
| "Pengurangan" has an alternate meaning "subtraction". | |||
| Javanese | nyuda | ||
| The word "nyuda" can also mean "diminishing" or "lessening" in Javanese. | |||
| Khmer | ការកាត់បន្ថយ | ||
| Lao | ການຫຼຸດຜ່ອນ | ||
| ການຫຼຸດຜ່ອນ (ການຫລຸດຜ່ອນ) อาจหมายถึง การลดลง ภาษี การตัดทอนหรือการขาดหายไป | |||
| Malay | pengurangan | ||
| The Malay word "pengurangan" also translates to "deduction" and implies that one thing stems from another. | |||
| Thai | ลด | ||
| The Thai word "ลด" not only means "reduction" but also "to deduct," "to decrease," "to lower," and "to abate." | |||
| Vietnamese | giảm bớt | ||
| The word "giảm bớt" originally meant "to diminish" or "to make less", but it now also commonly refers to a "discount" or "sale". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pagbabawas | ||
Reduction in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | azalma | ||
| The word "azalma" in Azerbaijani also has the sense of "deduction" and "disconnection". | |||
| Kazakh | төмендету | ||
| Kyrgyz | кыскартуу | ||
| Tajik | коҳиш | ||
| The word "коҳиш" (reduction) derives from the Persian verb "کاستن" (to decrease), and is also used in a figurative sense to refer to the decline or lessening of something. | |||
| Turkmen | azaltmak | ||
| Uzbek | kamaytirish | ||
| The word "kamaytirish" in Uzbek can also mean "decrease" or "diminution". | |||
| Uyghur | كېمەيتىش | ||
Reduction in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hoʻēmi | ||
| The word "hoʻēmi" also means "humility" or "submission" in Hawaiian. | |||
| Maori | whakahekenga | ||
| In addition to "reduction," the word "whakahekenga" also means "deduction" and "discount" in the Maori language. | |||
| Samoan | faʻaititia | ||
| Faʻaititia can also mean to decrease, diminish, lower, or become less. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | pagbawas | ||
| "Pagbawas" also means subtraction or deduction in mathematics. | |||
Reduction in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jisk’achaña | ||
| Guarani | reducción rehegua | ||
Reduction in International Languages
| Esperanto | redukto | ||
| "Redukto" can also mean "reductive" or "minimalist" in Esperanto. | |||
| Latin | reductione | ||
| Reductione, from reducō, is a term used in Roman law and medicine, and refers to a restoration of a person's status, property or health to a former state. | |||
Reduction in Others Languages
| Greek | μείωση | ||
| The Greek term "μείωση" can also refer to poetic license in Homeric epics. | |||
| Hmong | txo kom tsawg | ||
| The term "txo kom tsawg" can also refer to a process of "cutting down" or "shortening" something in Hmong culture. | |||
| Kurdish | kêmkirinî | ||
| The word "kêmkirinî" can also refer to a decrease in quantity or amount, or a decline in value or significance. | |||
| Turkish | indirgeme | ||
| 'indirgeme' has a more general sense in Turkish than 'reduction' in English; it also relates to the sense of 'descending' as in 'to descend into chaos' or 'to descend from (a family)' | |||
| Xhosa | ukunciphisa | ||
| An alternate meaning of "ukunciphisa" that is no longer widely used: to crush or mash something. | |||
| Yiddish | רעדוקציע | ||
| In Yiddish, "רעדוקציע" (reduktsie) is also a term denoting a type of Jewish religious festival song. | |||
| Zulu | ukunciphisa | ||
| Ukunciphisa can also mean 'shortening', 'lessening' or 'to abate'. | |||
| Assamese | কম কৰণ | ||
| Aymara | jisk’achaña | ||
| Bhojpuri | कमी हो गइल बा | ||
| Dhivehi | މަދުކުރުން | ||
| Dogri | कमी करना | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | pagbabawas | ||
| Guarani | reducción rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | pannakakissay | ||
| Krio | ridyushɔn | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کەمکردنەوە | ||
| Maithili | कमी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯍꯟꯊꯍꯅꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | tihtlem a ni | ||
| Oromo | hir’isuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ହ୍ରାସ | ||
| Quechua | pisiyachiy | ||
| Sanskrit | न्यूनीकरणम् | ||
| Tatar | киметү | ||
| Tigrinya | ምጉዳል | ||
| Tsonga | ku hungutiwa | ||