01
schießen
to shoot
To fire a projectile from a firearm (e.g., pistol, rifle) or a bow.
example
Die Polizei schoss dem flüchtenden Täter ins Bein.
The police shot the fleeing offender in the leg.
schießen
to shoot
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 06
Usage tips
Auxiliary verb: hat or ist?
The perfect tense of 'schießen' (to shoot) is formed with two different auxiliary verbs. When it describes an active action (e.g., with a weapon or a ball), you use 'haben' (to have). When it describes fast movement, you use 'sein' (to be).
EXAMPLE
Der Jäger hat auf ein Wildschwein geschossen.
The hunter shot at a wild boar.
Preposition 'auf'
When you shoot at a target, the preposition 'auf' is used with the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Er hat mit dem Bogen auf die Zielscheibe geschossen.
He shot at the target with the bow.
Typical collocations
In a sports context, the most common and important collocation is 'ein Tor schießen' (to score a goal). 'den Ball schießen' (to shoot the ball) and 'aufs Tor schießen' (to shoot at the goal) are also very common.
EXAMPLE
In der letzten Minute des Spiels hat sie das entscheidende Tor geschossen.
In the last minute of the game, she scored the decisive goal.
Describing movement
In this meaning, 'schießen' (to shoot) is often combined with prepositions of direction to describe sudden, fast movement. The auxiliary verb here is always 'sein' (to be).
EXAMPLE
Die Katze ist unter das Sofa geschossen.
The cat shot under the sofa.
Register: colloquial
The use of 'schießen' (to shoot) for 'fotografieren' (to photograph) is very widespread, but it belongs to colloquial speech. In more formal contexts, you would use 'ein Foto machen' (to take a photo) or 'fotografieren' (to photograph).
EXAMPLE
Wir haben im Urlaub viele schöne Fotos geschossen.
We shot a lot of beautiful photos on vacation.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'etwas in den Wind schießen' means to ignore advice or a warning. The thing being ignored is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat meine Warnung einfach in den Wind geschossen und ist trotzdem gegangen.
She simply threw my warning to the wind and went anyway.
Compare with
schießen vs treffen
to meet / to hit
'treffen' and 'schießen' can both appear in situations involving a target, for example in sports or with a weapon. The difference is important: 'schießen' describes the action, meaning that you move a ball, arrow, or projectile in a certain direction. 'treffen' describes the result: the target is actually reached. So you can shoot and still not hit. Learners can easily confuse the words because they often occur together. Memory tip: You shoot at a target, but you hit the target.
schießen
Im letzten Spiel schoss Lena den Ball knapp über das Tor.
In the last game, Lena shot the ball just over the goal.
treffen
Beim Training traf Max das Ziel erst beim dritten Versuch.
During training, Max only hit the target on his third attempt.
In real life
Loading video examples...