verb
to protect, to guard, to shield
B1
Means 'to protect', 'to guard' or 'to shield'. Used transitively with an accusative object (jemanden/etwas schützen) and commonly with 'vor' + D to mean 'protect from'. Reflexive sich schützen means 'protect oneself' or 'take precautions'. Auxiliary: haben. Regular (weak) verb; present stem change u→ü.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Er schützte seine Familie.
He protected his family.
Die Regierung erklärte, dass sie die Tiere schützen würde, falls strengere Regeln nötig wären.
The government stated that it would protect the animals if stricter rules were necessary.
Ich schütze die Umwelt.
I protect the environment.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Picture a big shield with the word 'schützen' keeping people safe behind it.
Sounds like 'shoot zen' — imagine a peaceful shield that protects in calm (zen) style.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
schützen is commonly used transitively. It can also be used reflexively (sich schützen) to mean 'protect oneself' or 'take precautions'. Note the present tense vowel change: ich schütze, du schützt.