encoger
to shrink
Reviewed by: David WestfallCofounder
To get smaller or make something smaller
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
Encoger means to shrink and is literally "to take something in," which of course would make something smaller.
encoger
to shrink, to contract
When you make something smaller.
El agua caliente encogió mi suéter favoritoHot water shrank my favorite sweater
La secadora encoge la ropa de algodónThe dryer shrinks cotton clothes
to draw in, to pull in (the body)
When you pull part of your body in toward yourself. You are taking an arm or a leg in, so it takes up less room.
Encogió las piernas para caber en el asientoHe drew his legs in to fit in the seat
Encoge los hombros y estírate hacia adelantePull your shoulders in and stretch forward
encogerse
to shrink, to get smaller
When something gets smaller on its own. It takes itself in, with nobody doing it to it.
La camisa se encogió después de lavarlaThe shirt shrank after washing it
El charco se encoge con el solThe puddle gets smaller in the sun
to shrink back, to cower (from fear or shyness)
When you curl up out of fear. You take yourself in and make yourself as small as you can.
El niño se encogió al oír el truenoThe child shrank back when he heard the thunder
Se encoge cada vez que le levantan la vozHe cowers every time someone raises their voice at him
encogerse de hombros
to shrug, to shrug one's shoulders
When you raise and lower your shoulders to show that you don't know something or don't care about something. The de narrows the action to your shoulders: you are shrinking yourself but only at the shoulders. They come up and in toward your ears, and your neck disappears.
Le pregunté la hora y solo se encogió de hombrosI asked him the time and he just shrugged
Se encogió de hombros y siguió caminandoShe shrugged her shoulders and kept walking