Inklingo
← Dictionary
A colorful illustration of a child enclosed within a glowing light blue protective shield or dome, symbolizing self-protection and care.

protegerme

proh-teh-HER-meh

VerbA2regular (with minor spelling change in 'yo' present tense) er
to protect myself?General action of self-defense or care
Also:to shield myself?Physical or emotional defense,to guard myself?Vigilance against harm

Quick Reference

past Participleprotegido
gerundprotegiendo
infinitiveproteger

📝 In Action

Necesito protegerme del sol en verano.

A2

I need to protect myself from the sun in summer.

Quiero protegerme de las malas influencias.

B1

I want to protect myself from bad influences.

Ella me enseñó a protegerme emocionalmente.

B2

She taught me how to protect myself emotionally.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • defenderse (to defend oneself)
  • cuidarse (to take care of oneself)

Antonyms

  • exponerse (to expose oneself)

Common Collocations

  • protegerse de la lluvia – to shelter from the rain
  • protegerse legalmente – to protect oneself legally

💡 Grammar Points

The Meaning of 'me'

The 'me' attached to the end means the action of the verb ('proteger') is directed back at the speaker ('I'). It turns the verb into a reflexive action: 'to protect myself'.

Placement Rule 1: Attaching the Pronoun

You can only attach the pronoun ('me') to the end of the verb when the verb is in its basic form (the infinitive: 'proteger'), the -ing form (the gerund: 'protegiendo'), or when giving a command (the affirmative imperative: 'protégeme').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Accent Mark

Mistake: "Protegerse without the accent when conjugating: 'protegiendome'."

Correction: When you attach pronouns to the end of the gerund or the imperative, you must add an accent mark to keep the original stress: 'protegiéndome' or 'protégeme'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Alternative Placement

When using 'protegerme' after a conjugated verb (like 'quiero'), you can separate the pronoun: 'Quiero protegerme' is the same as 'Me quiero proteger'. This is very common.

Spelling Change

The verb 'proteger' changes its 'g' to a 'j' only when followed by an 'a' or 'o' sound (like in the Present Tense 'yo' form: 'me protejo', or the entire Present Subjunctive: 'me proteja'). This keeps the 'h' sound consistent.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

él/ella/ustedse protegiera
yome protegiera
ellos/ellas/ustedesse protegieran
túte protegieras
vosotrosos protegierais
nosotrosnos protegiéramos

present

él/ella/ustedse proteja
yome proteja
ellos/ellas/ustedesse protejan
túte protejas
vosotrosos protejáis
nosotrosnos protejamos

indicative

imperfect

él/ella/ustedse protegía
yome protegía
ellos/ellas/ustedesse protegían
túte protegías
vosotrosos protegíais
nosotrosnos protegíamos

present

él/ella/ustedse protege
yome protejo
ellos/ellas/ustedesse protegen
túte proteges
vosotrosos protegéis
nosotrosnos protegemos

preterite

él/ella/ustedse protegió
yome protegí
ellos/ellas/ustedesse protegieron
túte protegiste
vosotrosos protegisteis
nosotrosnos protegimos
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: protegerme

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses the pronoun 'me' correctly when the verb 'proteger' is conjugated?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'proteger' and 'protegerme'?

'Proteger' means 'to protect' someone or something else ('Yo protejo a mi familia'). 'Protegerme' means 'to protect myself'—the action comes back to the person speaking ('Yo me protejo del frío').

When do I need to add an accent mark to 'protegerme'?

Since 'protegerme' is the infinitive form, it does not need an accent mark. However, if you attach the pronoun to the gerund ('protegiendo') it becomes 'protegiéndome' (needs an accent) or an affirmative command ('protege') it becomes 'protégeme' (needs an accent).