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proteger

to protect

verb proh-teh-HEHR Less Common
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: From Latin protegere (to cover in front).

Usage Note

Proteger is a regular -er verb, but the final -g softens before -e/-i (spelled protejo, protejas) to preserve the soft h sound. It takes a direct object (proteger a los niños) or can be reflexive (protegerse del sol, to protect oneself from the sun). The noun is protección.

Examples

"Hay que proteger el medio ambiente."

Natural Translation

We must protect the environment.

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