disminuir
verbCEFR B2
What does “disminuir” mean in English?
to diminish, to reduce
to diminish, to reduce (to decrease in amount or degree; disminuir los costes / el riesgo — transitive or intransitive)
Example sentences
Las nuevas tecnologías han conseguido disminuir los costes de producción sin reducir la calidad del producto.
New technologies have succeeded in reducing production costs without lowering the quality of the product.
La tasa de mortalidad infantil ha disminuido considerablemente gracias a los avances en vacunación.
Infant mortality rates have decreased considerably thanks to advances in vaccination.
La medida busca disminuir las desigualdades entre las distintas regiones del país.
The measure aims to reduce the inequalities between the different regions of the country.
How to use it
Disminuir means 'to diminish', 'to reduce', or 'to decrease'. It can be transitive (reduce something) or intransitive (something decreases). Common in economics, statistics, health, and policy. Distinguish from reducir (reduce, often implying active, intentional cutting) — disminuir can be natural or passive decline.
Common mistake
Disminuir vs. reducir: reducir implies deliberate action (we will reduce costs); disminuir can be natural or passive (costs have diminished). Both are correct when describing intentional reductions, but reducir is slightly more agentive. The verb is regular in conjugation: no stem-change.