Encogerse

Encogerse is a Spanish verb in reflexive form that means to draw inward or to reduce in size, either literally or figuratively. It can describe a physical change, such as a garment shrinking in washing or a body part curling inward, as well as a posture change like hunching the shoulders or recoiling in fear or embarrassment. The term also appears in figurative expressions, for example to shrink back from a challenge or responsibility.

Grammatical notes: Encogerse is the pronominal form of encoger. The verb encoger is irregular in the present indicative: yo encojo, tú encoges, él encoge, nosotros encogemos, vosotros encogéis, ellos encogen. In the reflexive form, the conjugation is: me encojo, te encoges, se encoge, nos encogemos, os encogéis, se enco­gen.

Usage examples: La chaqueta se encogió en la lavadora. (The jacket shrank in the washing machine.) Se encogió de hombros ante la pregunta. (He shrugged his shoulders at the question.) Se encoge ante situaciones intimidantes, buscando apartarse o evitarlas. Figurativamente, alguien puede encogerse ante la responsabilidad.

Related forms: encogimiento (noun) refers to the act or result of shrinking; encogido/a (adjective) describes something or someone that is shrunken or withdrawn. Encogerse is common in everyday speech and in literature, used to convey physical contraction, posture, or a metaphorical retreat.