Ermäßigen

Ermäßigen is a German verb that means to reduce the value, amount, or degree of something. It is commonly used for prices, fees, or rates, but can also refer to tempering quantities or policies. In everyday language, ermäßigen often implies a discount or concession granted to a person or a category.

Typical contexts include price reductions by merchants or suppliers: Der Händler ermäßigte den Preis um zehn Prozent. In tax or public-finance language, related terms like ermäßigter Steuersatz (reduced tax rate) are common, and the noun Ermäßigung denotes a discount or concession. The adjective form ermäßigt is used to describe reduced rates or prices, e.g., ermäßigte Tarife.

Grammar: Ermäßigen is a regular verb. Present tense forms: ich ermäßige, du ermäßigst, er ermäßigt, wir ermäßigen, ihr ermäßigt, sie ermäßigen. The past participle is ermäßigt, and the perfect is formed with haben: Ich habe den Preis ermäßigt. The passive voice uses werden: Der Preis wurde ermäßigt.

Connotation and usage notes: The verb is more formal than synonyms like senken or reduzieren and is common in commercial, administrative, or legal language. It requires a direct object, typically a price, fee, or rate.

Related terms: Ermäßigung (discount or concession), ermäßigter Steuersatz (reduced tax rate), ermäßigte Tickets or Tarife (discounted tickets or fares). These terms are often encountered together in consumer, tax, and public-transport contexts.