zmanjanje

Zmanjanje is a term used to denote the act or process of making something smaller or less. In Slovenian, the standard noun for this concept is zmanjšanje, formed from the verb zmanjšati with the nominalizing suffix -anje. The form zmanjanje may appear in non-standard texts or regional speech and is usually considered non-standard in formal writing.

In practice, zmanjanje can refer to reductions in various domains. For example, in economics it can describe reductions in costs or prices; in environmental policy it can denote reductions in emissions; in energy policy it can refer to reductions in energy consumption; and in demographics or market analysis it can describe reductions in population or market size. The exact meaning depends on context and accompanying modifiers.

The standard Slovenian terminology for this concept includes synonyms and related terms such as zmanjšanje, which is the more common noun, and znižanje, often used for price reductions. Other general terms for decline or fall include upad and padec, depending on the particular sense (economic, statistical, or physical).

Across related South Slavic languages, the parallel concept is usually expressed with the form smanjenje (Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian), highlighting a shared Slavic root related to making something smaller. In Slovenian usage, choosing among zmanjšanje, zmanjšanje, and related terms depends on precision and register, with zmanjšanje or zmanjšanje preferred in formal context, and zmanjanje appearing mainly as a vernacular variant.