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verb

schütteln

shake

Eine Bewegung, bei der etwas schnell hin und her bewegt oder kräftig bewegt wird.

Definition & meaning

schütteln means to shake something (or oneself), usually with short, repeated movements.

Common uses:

  • to shake (something): move an object back and forth or up and down
    z.B. die Flasche schütteln = to shake the bottle
  • to shake hands: sich die Hand schütteln = to shake someone’s hand
  • to shiver/tremble (often reflexive or with “vor”): ich schüttle mich (vor Kälte) = I’m shivering (from cold)
  • to shake off / get rid of (figurative): etwas abschütteln = to shake something off (e.g., a bad feeling, a pursuer)

Grammar & Word origin

  • Verb: schütteln
  • Type: regular meaning, but with vowel change in some forms:
    Präteritum: schüttelte; Partizip II: geschüttelt
  • Often used:
    • transitively: etwas schütteln (to shake something)
    • reflexively: sich schütteln (to shake/shiver)
  • Word family/prefix variants include: abschütteln (shake off), durchschütteln (shake thoroughly), erschüttern (to shake profoundly, figuratively “to shock”).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms (depending on context):

  • rütteln (to jolt/shake, often stronger/rougher)
  • wackeln (to wobble)
  • zittern (to tremble/shiver)
  • beben (to quake)
  • erschüttern (to shake deeply; also “to shock”)

Antonyms (context-dependent):

  • beruhigen (to calm)
  • stillhalten / stillstehen (to keep still / stand still)
  • stabilisieren (to stabilize)

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Examples

Du musst die Flasche vor dem Öffnen schütteln.verb

You must shake the bottle before opening it.

Er schüttelt den Kopf in Verwunderung.verb

He shakes his head in amazement.

Sie schütteln den Kopf.verb

They shake their head.

Er schüttelt die Flasche vor dem Öffnen.verb

He shakes the bottle before opening it.

Er muss den Behälter schütteln, um alles zu mischen.verb

He must shake the container to mix everything.

Hast du die Bettdecken schon kräftig geschüttelt?verb

Have you already shaken the duvets vigorously?

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