sænke

Sænke is a Danish verb meaning to sink or to lower. It is used for both physical sinking, such as lowering a body of water or the height of an object, and for reducing levels, amounts, or intensity, such as slowing a process or lowering prices. The term is common in everyday language as well as technical and scientific contexts.

In terms of grammar, the infinitive form is sænke. The present tense is sænker. The simple past is sænkede, and the past participle is sænket, which is used with auxiliary verbs (for example, har sænket = has lowered). Danish uses these forms to convey timing and aspect across transitive actions (someone lowers something) and intransitive uses (the water level sinks).

The word belongs to the North Germanic language family and has cognates in related languages. In Swedish and Norwegian, parallel verbs with similar meanings exist, reflecting a shared linguistic heritage centered on the idea of lowering or sinking. While the exact spellings and conjugations differ by language, Danish sænke shares the core meaning and usage with its relatives.

The noun form sænkning, derived from sænke, refers to the act or result of lowering or subsidence, such as a reduction in level, height, or intensity. The term is primarily linguistic and descriptive; it is not widely used as a proper noun or name in common references.