to restrain / move
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to restrain oneself
To control oneself and keep one’s emotions, impulses, or behavior under control.
Obwohl er sehr wütend war, konnte er sich gerade noch zügeln und blieb ruhig.
Although he was very angry, he just managed to restrain himself and stayed calm.
to restrain
To keep something, such as a feeling or an animal, in check, to moderate it, or to control it.
Sie versuchte, ihre Neugier zu zügeln und keine weiteren Fragen zu stellen.
She tried to restrain her curiosity and not ask any more questions.
to move
Used in Switzerland and parts of southern Germany to mean changing one’s place of residence, moving house.
Nächsten Monat zügeln wir von Bern nach Zürich.
Next month we’re moving from Bern to Zurich.
The verb “zügeln” (to restrain) is derived from the noun “der Zügel” (rein). Reins are the straps used to steer and control a horse. This idea of control is transferred to feelings and behavior.
Ein guter Reiter kann sein Pferd mit feinen Zügelhilfen lenken.
A good rider can steer his horse with subtle rein aids.
You can recognize the meaning from the sentence structure. “Sich zügeln” (to restrain oneself) is reflexive and means self-control. “Etwas zügeln” (to restrain something) needs an object, such as feelings. Without an object and with place information, it means “umziehen” (to move house).
Er musste sich zügeln, um nicht laut zu lachen.
He had to restrain himself so as not to laugh out loud.
When it is about self-control, the verb is always used reflexively. The reflexive pronoun (mich, dich, sich, etc.) must match the subject of the sentence.
Bitte zügelt euch, auch wenn ihr anderer Meinung seid.
Please restrain yourselves, even if you disagree.
In the meaning “to control something,” “zügeln” (to restrain) is often combined with emotions or impulses. Typical phrases are: “seinen Appetit zügeln” (to restrain one’s appetite), “seine Wut zügeln” (to restrain one’s anger), or “seine Ausgaben zügeln” (to curb one’s spending).
Im Moment versuche ich, meinen Appetit auf Süßigkeiten zu zügeln.
At the moment, I’m trying to restrain my appetite for sweets.
The meaning “umziehen” (to move house) is used almost exclusively in Switzerland and partly in southern Germany. In other parts of the German-speaking world, it is not understood.
Meine Cousine ist vor einem Jahr von Deutschland in die Schweiz gezügelt.
My cousin moved from Germany to Switzerland a year ago.
to brake / slow down
Sich bremsen means holding oneself back so that one does not do or say something. Sich zügeln places more emphasis on controlling emotions, impulses, or behavior. Before making a thoughtless remark, one bremst sich; when faced with a strong inner impulse, one zügelt sich.
Im Streit zügelt sich Lara, obwohl sie sehr wütend ist.
During the argument, Lara restrains herself even though she is very angry.
Im Streit bremst sich Lara, bevor sie etwas Verletzendes sagt.
During the argument, Lara holds herself back before saying something hurtful.
