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.
'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' and 'abhören' both have to do with hearing, but they are used in different situations. 'Sich etwas anhören' means to listen attentively, for example to an explanation, an opinion, or a recording. In formal situations, you can also 'eine Person anhören' (hear a person), so that they can give their point of view. 'Abhören' sounds more targeted and often more controlling: you can secretly listen in on conversations, check a voicemail, or have a doctor listen to your lungs. Learners may confuse the words because only one prefix is different. As a simple guide: 'anhören' is normal, open listening; 'abhören' is checking, monitoring, or secretly listening in.
Vor der Untersuchung hört die Ärztin die Lunge des Patienten ab.
Before the examination, the doctor listens to the patient's lungs.
Hannah hört sich die Idee ihrer Freundin ruhig an.
Hannah calmly listens to her friend's idea.