to switch off / to unwind
Loading your saved state.
to switch off
To take an electrical device, machine, or light source out of operation so that it no longer consumes electricity. Synonym of to turn off.
Vergiss bitte nicht, den Fernseher abzuschalten, bevor du ins Bett gehst.
Please don’t forget to switch off the TV before you go to bed.
to unwind
To mentally calm down, relax, and stop thinking about work, problems, or stress.
Am Wochenende fahre ich an den See, um einfach mal richtig abzuschalten.
At the weekend, I go to the lake just to really unwind for once.
to shut off
To deliberately interrupt the supply of electricity, gas, or water to a building or area.
Wegen Wartungsarbeiten wird morgen früh in der ganzen Straße der Strom abgeschaltet.
Because of maintenance work, the electricity will be shut off throughout the whole street tomorrow morning.
'Abschalten' is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Ich schalte jetzt den Computer ab.
I’m switching off the computer now.
You can recognize the meaning from the object: With a device ('Fernseher' — TV, 'Handy' — mobile phone), it means 'ausschalten' (to switch off). Without an object, it usually means 'entspannen' (to relax). With 'Strom' (electricity) or 'Wasser' (water), it means 'Versorgung unterbrechen' (to interrupt the supply).
Schaltest du bitte die Kaffeemaschine ab?
Could you please switch off the coffee machine?
In the meaning 'entspannen' (to relax), 'abschalten' is often intensified with adverbs such as 'richtig' (really), 'völlig' (completely), or 'einfach mal' (just for once). You can also say what you are switching off from: 'vom Alltagsstress abschalten' (to switch off from everyday stress).
Nach einer langen Arbeitswoche muss ich am Wochenende einfach mal abschalten.
After a long workweek, I just need to unwind at the weekend.
to interrupt
When a supply has to be stopped, both unterbrechen and abschalten can fit. Unterbrechen emphasizes that the connection or supply is temporarily blocked, while abschalten highlights the deliberate action of shutting it off by a person. Use unterbrechen for the suspension and abschalten for the deliberate measure.
Der Techniker muss die Wasserversorgung für die Reparatur gezielt abschalten.
The technician has to deliberately shut off the water supply for the repairs.
Wegen der Reparatur müssen wir die Wasserversorgung für zwei Stunden unterbrechen.
Because of the repairs, we have to interrupt the water supply for two hours.
