verdünnen
to dilute
To make a liquid less concentrated by adding another liquid, usually water.
EXAMPLE
Du solltest den Saft mit etwas Wasser verdünnen, er ist sehr süß.
You should dilute the juice with a little water; it's very sweet.
verdünnen
to dilute / thin
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Meanings
sich verdünnen
to thin out
To become thinner or less dense. This can refer to gases, but also to crowds or fog.
EXAMPLE
In großer Höhe verdünnt sich die Luft merklich.
At high altitude, the air noticeably thins out.
verdünnen
to dilute
To weaken or reduce the intensity, quality, or effect of something.
EXAMPLE
Durch die vielen Kompromisse wurde die ursprüngliche, radikale Idee stark verdünnt.
Through the many compromises, the original radical idea was greatly diluted.
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb 'verdünnen' (to dilute/thin) is formed from the prefix 'ver-' and the adjective 'dünn' (thin). This pattern often means 'to make something [adjective]', as also in 'verbessern' (to make better) or 'verkleinern' (to make smaller).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du die Farbe bitte etwas verdünnen?
Can you please dilute the paint a little?
Transitive vs. reflexive
Pay attention to the difference: 'etwas verdünnen' (to dilute something) is transitive and means that someone actively mixes a liquid. 'Sich verdünnen' (to thin out) is reflexive and describes a process in which something becomes less dense on its own, such as fog or a crowd.
EXAMPLE
Ich verdünne die Suppe mit etwas Brühe.
I dilute the soup with a little broth.
Sentence structure with 'mit'
When you dilute a liquid, use the structure: 'etwas (accusative) mit etwas (dative) verdünnen' (to dilute something with something). The preposition 'mit' indicates what is added.
EXAMPLE
Der Maler verdünnt die Lackfarbe mit einem speziellen Lösungsmittel.
The painter dilutes the enamel paint with a special solvent.
Compare with
verdünnen vs strecken
to stretch
When referring to liquids, strecken and verdünnen can both describe adding another liquid. Strecken emphasizes increasing the quantity or making the liquid go further, often with lower quality as a result. Verdünnen neutrally emphasizes lowering the concentration.
verdünnen
Sie verdünnt den Saft mit Wasser, weil er ihr zu konzentriert ist.
She dilutes the juice with water because it is too concentrated for her.
strecken
Der Wirt streckt den Saft mit Wasser, damit er mehr Gläser verkaufen kann.
The innkeeper dilutes the juice with water so he can sell more glasses.
In real life
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