schlagen
Translation
to hit, to beat, to strike, to defeat
Examples
Er schlägt den Nagel in die Wand.
He hits the nail into the wall.
Mein Herz schlägt sehr schnell.
My heart is beating very fast.
Sie hat ihn im Tennis geschlagen.
She beat him at tennis.
Die Uhr schlägt Mitternacht.
The clock is striking midnight.
Grammar Patterns
((sb./sth.)) to hit/beat sb./sth. The boxer hits his opponent.
((sb.)) ((in sth.)) to defeat sb. in sth. She beat him in chess.
((against sth.)) to strike against sth. The waves strike against the rocks.
Similar Words
Synonyms: to hit, to strike; Antonyms: to caress, to stroke
Etymology
From Old High German 'slahan', meaning 'to strike'. It is a cognate of the English word 'slay'.
Memory Tips
The sound 'schlag' can evoke the sound of a whip cracking or something hitting a surface. Imagine a drummer 'schlagen' the drums.