verb
to lose weight, to take off (something), to reduce
B1
Abnehmen is a separable, strong verb meaning to lose weight, to take off or remove something, and to decrease. Uses auxiliary 'haben' (Perfekt: abgenommen). Irregular: present vowel change (ich nehme ab, du nimmst ab; Präteritum nahm ab). Non‑reflexive; separable prefix 'ab' splits in main clauses.
Examples
Der Arzt bemerkte, dass die Schmerzen abnahmen, nachdem die Behandlung begonnen hatte.
The doctor noticed that the pains decreased after the treatment had started.
Ich nehme an Gewicht ab.
I am losing weight.
Wir müssen die Kosten abnehmen, wenn wir wettbewerbsfähig bleiben wollen.
We need to reduce costs if we want to stay competitive.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone removing (taking off) a hat: the hat goes 'ab' and leaves, so you 'abnehmen' the hat
sounds like 'up-ne-men' — imagine taking something up and away
Notes
Multiple senses: intransitive 'abnehmen' = lose weight; transitive '(etwas) abnehmen' = remove or take off; separable prefix 'ab-' separates in main clauses (ich nehme ... ab). Uses auxiliary 'haben' in perfect tenses.