abkürzen
to take a shortcut
To take a shorter route than the usual one in order to reach the destination faster.
EXAMPLE
Wenn wir durch den Park abkürzen, sparen wir zehn Minuten.
If we take a shortcut through the park, we'll save ten minutes.
abkürzen
to shorten / take a shortcut
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Meanings
abkürzen
to abbreviate
To shorten a word, sentence, or text by leaving out letters or parts, often using a period.
EXAMPLE
Das Wort „beziehungsweise“ wird oft mit „bzw.“ abgekürzt.
The word 'beziehungsweise' is often abbreviated as 'bzw.'.
abkürzen
to shorten
To shorten a process, discussion, or activity in order to end it more quickly.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns die Diskussion abkürzen und direkt zur Abstimmung kommen.
Let's shorten the discussion and go straight to the vote.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abkürzen' (to shorten/take a shortcut) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab' comes at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses or infinitives with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Ich kürze hier immer ab, um Zeit zu sparen.
I always take a shortcut here to save time.
Word structure
The verb is made up of the prefix 'ab-' and the verb 'kürzen' (to shorten). The prefix reinforces the idea of making something shorter or 'cutting off' a part—whether it is a route, a word, or a process.
EXAMPLE
Können wir die Besprechung nicht etwas abkürzen?
Can't we shorten the meeting a bit?
Use without an object
In the meaning 'to take a shorter route', 'abkürzen' (to take a shortcut) can also be used without an object. The route is often described more precisely with the preposition 'durch' (through).
EXAMPLE
Komm, wir kürzen durch den Wald ab!
Come on, let's take a shortcut through the forest!
Use with 'mit'
When you abbreviate a word, the abbreviation itself is often introduced with the preposition 'mit' (with). The pattern is: Etwas wird mit [Abkürzung] abgekürzt (something is abbreviated with [abbreviation]).
EXAMPLE
Der Ausdruck „und so weiter“ wird oft mit „usw.“ abgekürzt.
The expression 'und so weiter' is often abbreviated as 'usw.'.
Compare with
abkürzen vs kürzen
to shorten / reduce
When taking a faster route, kürzen and abkürzen can express the same basic idea. However, abkürzen is the more common and idiomatic choice for this. Kürzen merely emphasizes that the route becomes shorter and sounds less usual in this usage.
abkürzen
Wir kürzen den Weg zum Bahnhof durch den Park ab.
We are taking a shortcut to the train station through the park.
kürzen
Wir kürzen den Weg zum Bahnhof, indem wir durch den Park gehen.
We are shortening the route to the train station by going through the park.
In real life
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