proteger
“proteger” means “to protect” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to protect, to shield
Also: to shelter
📝 In Action
El perro siempre protege a los niños de la casa.
A2The dog always protects the children of the house.
Usa bloqueador solar para proteger tu piel del sol.
A2Use sunblock to protect your skin from the sun.
Protejo mi computadora con una buena contraseña.
B1I protect my computer with a good password.
to safeguard, to conserve
Also: to cherish
📝 In Action
Es deber del gobierno proteger los derechos de los ciudadanos.
B1It is the government's duty to safeguard citizens' rights.
Debemos proteger la biodiversidad de nuestro planeta.
B2We must conserve the biodiversity of our planet.
Ella protege la memoria de su abuela, contando sus historias.
C1She cherishes her grandmother's memory by telling her stories.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "proteger" in Spanish:
to cherish→to conserve→to protect→to safeguard→to shelter→to shield→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: proteger
Question 1 of 2
Which form of 'proteger' is correct for the first person singular ('yo') in the present indicative tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *prōtegere*, which is formed by joining *pro-* (meaning 'in front of' or 'forward') and *tegere* (meaning 'to cover'). The original meaning was literally 'to cover in front of' someone or something to shield them from danger.
First recorded: Mid 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'proteger' change its spelling in some conjugations?
Spanish needs to keep the soft, 'h'-like sound of the 'g' consistent. Since 'g' naturally makes a hard sound before 'a' and 'o' (like 'go'), it must switch to a 'j' (like in 'yo protejo' and 'que él proteja') to maintain the correct pronunciation.
Is 'proteger' reflexive? Can I use 'protegerse'?
Yes! When you use 'protegerse,' it means 'to protect oneself.' For example, 'Me protejo con un casco' (I protect myself with a helmet).