German word

abschalten

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈapˌʃaltən/

Meaning

  • verbturn off

Example

Ich schalte mein Handy ab.

I turn off my phone.

Illustration for abschalten (turn off)

More examples

Beim Joggen schalte ich oft vom Stress ab.

While jogging, I often unwind from stress.

Core concept

A hand moves a control to the off position, leaving a phone, feature, or running program inactive.

Common phrases

  • das Licht abschalten

    switch off the light

  • den Computer abschalten

    switch off the computer

  • vom Stress abschalten

    unwind from stress

Similar words

ausschalten: To switch off a device and stop it from operating.
ausmachen: To turn off a light or device so it stops working.
abstellen: To stop a machine or device and switch off its power.

Definition in German

trennbares Verb; den Betrieb von etwas (z. B. einem Gerät, einer Funktion oder einem Programm) stoppen oder ausschalten

Word origin

The verb combines schalten, meaning to switch or operate, with the separable prefix ab-, meaning away or off, forming the sense of switching something out of operation.

Usage tips

  • In a main clause, the separable prefix moves to the end: Ich schalte mein Handy ab; with zu, the form is abzuschalten.

Other meanings

  • shut downverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Abschaltungswitching offnoun
  • abgeschaltetturned offadjective

Word lists with this word