schalten

Etymology
From, from ; further etymology obscure. Cognate with 🇨🇬.

Verb

 * 1) to switch
 * 2) to shift gears
 * 3)  to be on the ball to be quick to understand and react to something sudden and/or unexpected

Usage notes

 * The normal past past participle is geschaltet.
 * The strong form geschalten is used colloquially in some regions. It is rarely seen in writing, although it is the older form.