Ohrenschützer
The German word for muffs is Ohrenschützer.
The term Ohrenschützer refers to protective coverings worn over the ears to keep them warm or to block noise. It is commonly used when talking about winter clothing or in industrial safety contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of Ohren (ears) and Schützer (protectors).
Which one should you use?
While Ohrenschützer specifically refers to the physical muffs worn over the ears, the term Gehörschutz is a more general term for any kind of hearing protection, such as earplugs.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word Ohrenschützer is used in both the singular and plural forms to refer to a single pair of ear muffs.
Did you know?
- If you are looking for the fashion accessory often used in historical paintings, such as a fur hand-warmer, Germans will not call it an Ohrenschützer. Instead, you should use the word Pelzwärmer or simply Muff.
- The word Schützer shares the same root as Schützen, which also means 'to shoot' in German. While the contexts are opposite, both refer to the act of aiming or directing something precisely.
- In German sports terminology, particularly in boxing or martial arts, Ohrenschützer is the specific term used for headgear designed to prevent cauliflower ear.
Examples in context
- Bei so einer Arbeit ist es wichtig, Ohrenschützer zu tragen.It’s important to cover your ears with ear muffs in a job like that.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the importance of wearing Ohrenschützer during certain types of work.Tatoeba #2367210 by Rekholder, translation #2367115 by Rekholder
- Vergiss nicht, deine Ohrenschützer mitzunehmen, es wird kalt heute!Don't forget to bring your muffs, it's going to be cold today!
- Ich habe gestern neue Ohrenwärmer gekauft. Sie sind super bequem!I bought new muffs yesterday. They are super comfortable!
- Die gelben Ohrenschützer sind sehr bequem.The yellow ear muffs are very comfortable.
- Ich brauche neue Ohrenschützer für den Wintersport.I need new ear muffs for winter sports.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are preparing for a walk in the snow.
- LukasEs ist heute sehr kalt draußen.It is very cold outside today.
- JuliaJa, ich ziehe meine Ohrenschützer an.Yes, I am putting on my earmuffs.
- LukasWo sind meine Ohrenschützer?Where are my earmuffs?
- JuliaLukas, sie liegen auf dem Tisch.Lukas, they are lying on the table.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Ohrenschützer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
