réduisons

Réduisons is a French verb form derived from réduire, meaning to reduce or lessen. Specifically, it is the present tense form corresponding to the subject “nous,” so it expresses “we reduce” in standard usage (nous réduisons). The form is built from the stem rédui- and uses the present tense endings typical for -re verbs. In many contexts, the related verb expresses actions such as lowering energy use, cutting costs, or shrinking quantities.

Etymology and meaning: The verb réduire comes from Latin reducere, literally “to lead back.” In modern French, réduire covers a range of meanings related to making something smaller in amount, size, degree, or intensity. Réduisons, as a present-tense form, is commonly used in everyday speech and writing to indicate an ongoing or general action of reducing.

Usage notes: In addition to the present indicative, French also has a present subjunctive form that looks similar but is spelled differently: réduisions (with an extra i), used after certain expressions requiring the subjunctive, as in “Il faut que nous réduisions nos émissions.” The choice between indicative and subjunctive depends on the grammatical mood and the preceding construction.

Examples:

- Nous réduisons notre consommation d'énergie pour protéger l'environnement.

- Il faut que nous réduisions nos émissions afin d'atteindre les objectifs climatiques.

See also: réduire; conjugation of French verbs; Latin reducere.