to tap / listen to
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to tap
To secretly listen in on other people's conversations or communication, often using technical means such as bugs or by tapping telephone lines.
Die Polizei hatte die Erlaubnis, das Telefon des Verdächtigen abzuhören.
The police had permission to tap the suspect's phone.
to listen to medically
To listen to someone or something deliberately in order to check or assess it, e.g. when a doctor examines a patient's lungs with a stethoscope.
Der Arzt hörte die Lunge des Patienten sorgfältig ab.
The doctor carefully listened to the patient's lungs.
to check messages
To listen to a recorded message, especially on an answering machine or voicemail.
Ich muss noch schnell meinen Anrufbeantworter abhören, bevor wir gehen.
I still need to quickly check my answering machine before we leave.
'Abhören' (to tap / listen to) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Der Detektiv hörte das verdächtige Gespräch ab.
The detective tapped the suspicious conversation.
You can almost always recognize which meaning is intended from the object. 'Den Anrufbeantworter abhören' (to check the answering machine) is neutral, 'die Lunge abhören' (to listen to the lungs) is medical, and 'ein Telefon abhören' (to tap a phone) refers to espionage.
Der Arzt muss dein Herz abhören.
The doctor has to listen to your heart.
In the meaning 'heimlich mithören' (to secretly listen in), the verb is often connected with technical devices or communication. Typical objects are 'das Telefon' (the phone), 'eine Wanze' (a bug), or 'ein Gespräch' (a conversation).
Die Regierung wurde beschuldigt, Journalisten abzuhören.
The government was accused of tapping journalists.
In a medical context, 'abhören' is almost always done with a stethoscope. Typical objects are 'die Lunge' (the lungs), 'das Herz' (the heart), or more generally 'der Patient' (the patient).
Die Ärztin hörte den Brustkorb des Kindes ab.
The doctor listened to the child's chest.
to listen to / to sound
Anhören is the general word for listening attentively and can also be used for recordings. Abhören is used especially for recorded messages on voicemail or an answering machine. In this area, both words are often possible, but abhören is more closely associated with these devices and services.
Ich höre die Nachricht auf der Mailbox noch einmal ab.
I’m going to check the voicemail message again.
Ich höre mir die Nachricht auf der Mailbox noch einmal an.
I’m going to listen to the voicemail message again.
