sich anschnallen
to buckle up
To put on and fasten the seat belt in a vehicle, such as a car or airplane.
EXAMPLE
Vor der Fahrt müssen sich alle Passagiere anschnallen.
Before the trip, all passengers must buckle up.
anschnallen
to buckle up
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Meanings
jemanden/etwas anschnallen
to strap in
To secure a person or object with a belt or strap so that they or it do not slip or fall down.
EXAMPLE
Die Mutter schnallte ihr Kind sorgfältig im Kindersitz an.
The mother carefully strapped her child into the child seat.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anschnallen' (to buckle up) is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' comes at the end of the sentence in a main clause. In a subordinate clause or infinitive with 'zu', the verb is not separated.
EXAMPLE
Bitte schnallen Sie sich an.
Please buckle up.
Reflexive vs. transitive
The verb is used in different ways: 'sich anschnallen' means that you fasten your own seat belt. 'Jemanden oder etwas anschnallen' means that you secure another person or an object.
EXAMPLE
Ich schnalle mich vor jeder Fahrt an.
I buckle up before every trip.
Common mistake
When you fasten your own seat belt, you must use the appropriate reflexive pronoun (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch). A sentence like 'Ich schnalle an' is incomplete.
EXAMPLE
Schnallst du dich bitte an?
Will you please buckle up?
Typical imperative
The request to buckle up is very often expressed in the imperative. The most common form is 'Schnall dich an!' (Buckle up!) or, in the polite form, 'Schnallen Sie sich bitte an!' (Please buckle up!).
EXAMPLE
Kinder, schnallt euch an, wir fahren los!
Kids, buckle up, we're leaving!
Compare with
anschnallen vs anlegen
to invest / create / dock
When referring to a seat belt, anlegen and sich anschnallen describe the same basic action. With anlegen, the belt is the object: one puts on the belt. Anschnallen is used reflexively here with the person being secured as its subject: one buckles oneself up.
anschnallen
Anna schnallt sich vor der Fahrt an.
Anna buckles up before the journey.
anlegen
Anna legt vor der Fahrt den Sicherheitsgurt an.
Anna puts on her seat belt before the journey.
In real life
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