alléger

lighten, ease

verb ah-leh-ZHEH Rare

Also means

reduce, trim down

Usage Note

Alléger is used for lightening a load, easing bureaucracy (alléger les procédures), reducing a budget (alléger les dépenses), or slimming down a text. The related adjective allégé (light, reduced-fat) is very common on food labels (yaourt allégé = low-fat yoghurt). Note the accent change: allège, allèges but alléger.

Examples

"Il faut alléger ce rapport avant de l'envoyer."

Natural Translation

We need to trim down this report before sending it.

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