How to Say "protecting" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “protecting” is “protegiendo” — use this word when actively guarding someone or something from danger, harm, or negative effects..
protegiendo
proh-teh-HYEHN-doh/pro.teˈxjen.do/
Examples
Mi perro está protegiendo la casa de los ladrones.
My dog is protecting the house from thieves.
Mi hermana está protegiendo a su gato de la lluvia.
My sister is protecting her cat from the rain.
Ellos han estado protegiendo sus tierras por generaciones.
They have been protecting their lands for generations.
El escudo siguió protegiendo al guerrero a pesar de los golpes.
The shield kept protecting the warrior despite the blows.
Showing Continuous Action
The '-iendo' ending means the action is happening right now, or over a period of time. You must use 'protegiendo' with a form of the verb 'estar' (to be) to make a continuous tense: 'está protegiendo'.
The '-er/-ir' Rule
All verbs ending in '-er' (like proteger) and '-ir' use the '-iendo' ending for this form. Verbs ending in '-ar' use '-ando'.
Using the Infinitive for Ongoing Action
Mistake: “Estamos proteger el medio ambiente.”
Correction: Estamos protegiendo el medio ambiente. (Use the -iendo form when describing what is happening right now.)
cubriendo
/koo-bree-EHN-doh//kuˈβɾjendo/
Examples
El toldo está cubriendo el patio del sol.
The awning is covering the patio from the sun.
Ella está cubriendo al bebé con una manta.
She is covering the baby with a blanket.
Las nubes están cubriendo el sol.
The clouds are covering the sun.
The '-ing' Form
This word is a 'gerund,' which is just a fancy way of saying it's the '-ing' version of the verb. It shows that an action is currently in progress.
Cubriendo vs. Cobrando
Mistake: “Using 'cubriendo' when you mean to say you are charging money.”
Correction: Use 'cobrando' for money and 'cubriendo' for physical or figurative coverage.
Protegiendo vs. Cubriendo
Related Translations
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