Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kontraktion | /kɔntʁakˈtsjoːn/ | feminine |
| Zusammenziehung | /t͡suˈzamənˌt͡siːʊŋ/ | feminine |
In German, the term refers to a shortened form of a word. When discussing technical, medical or scientific subjects, such as a muscle contraction or a physical contraction of space, use Kontraktion. For the general physical act of pulling something together or the shrinking/contraction of an object or tissue, use Zusammenziehung.
Which one should you use?
Kontraktion is typically used in technical, medical or scientific contexts. In contrast, Zusammenziehung is used to describe the physical act of pulling something together or the shrinking/contraction of an object or tissue.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Kontraktion is Kontraktionen, and the plural form of Zusammenziehung is Zusammenziehungen. Note that the formal pronoun Sie does not contract with verbs or any other words.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɔntʁakˈtsjoːn/
Did you know?
- The verb inside Zusammenziehung, zusammenziehen, can also mean 'to move in together' when referring to a couple sharing a home. This gives the word a social meaning completely unrelated to physical shrinking.
- German uses specialized contractions for prepositions and articles, such as am for an dem and im for in dem. These are not viewed as optional shortcuts but as standard grammatical requirements in most contexts.
- Unlike English, where contractions are often used to sound more natural or less stiff, overusing contractions in German can sometimes make a speaker sound overly dialectal or uneducated depending on the region.
Examples in context
- Was bin ich anderes als eine mikroskopisch kleine und vorübergehende Kontraktion des unendlichen Raums?What am I but a microscopic and temporary contraction of Infinite Space?This sentence uses the term Kontraktion in a context regarding space.Tatoeba #10616957 by carlosalberto, translation #10616852 by carlosalberto
- Die Kontraktion von 'geht es' zu 'geht's' ist häufig.The contraction of 'geht es' to 'geht's' is common.
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are studying German grammar together.
- LauraIst das hier eine Kontraktion?Is this a contraction?
- LukasJa, Laura, das Wort wurde hier verkürzt.Yes, Laura, the word was shortened here.
- LauraIch finde diese Kontraktion etwas verwirrend.I find this contraction a bit confusing.
- LukasKeine Sorge, man lernt es schnell.Don't worry, you learn it quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “contraction” translations and entries Kontraktion, Zusammenziehung, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
