How to Say "protect" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “protect” is “proteger” — use 'proteger' when referring to shielding someone or something from harm, danger, or negative influences, often in a more general or abstract sense..
proteger
proh-TEH-heh/pɾoˈt̪exe/
Examples
Ella protege a su familia de todo peligro.
She protects her family from all danger.
¡Protege tu cabeza!
Protect your head!
El gobierno protege las especies en peligro de extinción.
The government protects endangered species.
Spelling Change in 'Yo'
The verb 'proteger' needs a spelling change only in the 'yo' (I) form of the present tense to keep the soft 'g' sound. The 'g' changes to a 'j': 'yo protejo'.
Using the Command Form
'Protege' is the informal command (tú) form. It tells a friend or family member what to do: 'Protege a tu perro' (Protect your dog).
Mistake in 'Yo' Form
Mistake: “Yo protego”
Correction: The correct form is 'Yo protejo'. If you used 'protego', the 'g' would sound hard, like in 'gato'.
defender
/deh-fehn-DEHR//de.fenˈdeɾ/
Examples
El perro defiende la casa de los ladrones.
The dog defends the house from thieves.
Los soldados defienden la frontera con valentía.
The soldiers defend the border bravely.
The E > IE Change
In the present tense, the 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in all forms except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. This is common for many Spanish verbs!
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: “Yo defendo la verdad.”
Correction: Yo defiendo la verdad. Remember to change the 'e' to 'ie' when the stress falls on that syllable.
Defender vs. Proteger
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