madaltaa

Madaltaa is a Finnish verb meaning to cause something to become lower or to reduce it in degree or amount. It can refer to lowering physical height or level (for example land, water, or a structure), as well as to reducing quantities, values, intensity, risk, or standards. The term is commonly used in economics, policy discussions, engineering, and everyday language when describing a deliberate decrease or mitigation.

The word is formed from the root meaning low, with a causative suffix and the infinitive ending, making it a transitive verb in most uses. As a transitive verb, madaltaa typically takes a direct object representing what is lowered or reduced, for example a price, a level, or a barrier. It can also appear in intransitive contexts in phrases where the subject experiences the decrease, such as prices or indicators that go down, with the related form madaltua indicating the action occurs or the state shifts to a lower level.

Common contexts include economic measures (madaltamaan hinnat or hinnat madaltuvat, meaning prices are reduced or decrease), policy actions (madaltaa kynnystä or raja-arvoja madaltamalla), and physical or technical settings (korkeutta madaltaminen, a lowering of height or elevation). Related nouns include madaltaminen (the act of lowering) and madaltuva (lowering, descriptor). Synonyms or near-equivalents in Finnish include alentaa and laskea, while nuance and exact meaning depend on formality and specific context.

See also: alentaa, laskea, alennus.