Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| schütteln | /ˈʃʏtl̩n/ /ˈʃʏtəln/ |
| erschüttern | [ɛɐ̯ˈʃʏtɐn] (narrow) |
The primary meaning of schütteln is to cause something to move physically. The noun form Schütteln refers to the act of shaking. Related to this is Schindel, which refers to a thin shingle used as building material. You may also encounter the English loanword Shake in an informal context when referring to milkshakes or similar beverages.
Which one should you use?
While schütteln describes physical shaking, erschüttern is used when you shake someone's confidence or a foundation, often translated as 'to shock' or 'to unsettle'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavaria, some local dialects use the word schüddln instead of schütteln.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The simple past tense of schütteln is schüttelte, and the past participle is geschüttelt.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃʏtl̩n/
When do people say it?
When expressing disbelief or disagreement, Germans say they shake the head (den Kopf schütteln) rather than your head.
Did you know?
- The verb schütteln is actually a repetitive version of the verb schütten, which means 'to pour'. Essentially, to shake something is to perform the action of pouring it over and over again.
Examples in context
- Flasche vor Gebrauch schütteln.Shake the bottle before using.This sentence is useful for instructions regarding a bottle using schütteln.Tatoeba #10190125 by Yorwba, translation #245493 by CK
- Schütteln Sie bitte die Teppiche aus?Will you please shake out the rugs?This sentence shows how to use schütteln when asking someone to shake out rugs.Tatoeba #12921102 by Waldelfe, translation #11535784 by letsgolanguages
- Als ich all das sah, konnte ich nur den Kopf schütteln und resigniert schweigen.When I saw all that, I could only shake my head in silent resignation.This sentence demonstrates the idiom for shaking the head using schütteln.Tatoeba #1248081 by al_ex_an_der, translation #4073400 by AlanF_US
- Entschuldigen Sie, wie sagt man "shake" auf Deutsch?Excuse me, how do you say "shake" in German?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Hannah are cleaning up after a party.
- MaximilianKannst du bitte die Matratze schütteln?Can you please shake out the mattress?
- HannahJa, ich schüttle sie gleich draußen aus.Yes, I will shake it out outside right away.
- MaximilianDanke, das hilft gegen den Staub.Thanks, that helps against the dust.
- HannahKein Problem, Maximilian.No problem, Maximilian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shake” translations and entries schütteln, erschüttern, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries erschüttern, schütteln, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
