minimizar
“minimizar” means “to minimize” in Spanish (to reduce something to the smallest possible amount).
to minimize
Also: to downplay, to minimize
📝 In Action
Tienes que minimizar la ventana para ver el fondo.
A2You have to minimize the window to see the background.
No debemos minimizar la importancia de este problema.
B1We should not downplay the importance of this problem.
La empresa busca minimizar los riesgos financieros.
B2The company seeks to minimize financial risks.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: minimizar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I minimized' (past tense) in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'minimus' (meaning smallest), combined with the Greek-derived suffix '-izare' used to turn nouns or adjectives into actions.
First recorded: 19th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'minimizar' only used for computers?
No! While common in tech, it's used just as often for talking about risks, costs, and social situations (like downplaying an argument).
Is it a regular verb?
Mostly! It follows all regular -ar patterns, but it has a small spelling change (z to c) in certain forms to keep the sound consistent.
Can I use it to mean 'belittle' a person?
Yes, it can be used to mean someone is making another person feel small or unimportant, though 'menospreciar' is also common for that.