01
betonen
to emphasize
To highlight and underline the importance or significance of something through words or actions.
example
Der Firmenchef betonte die Notwendigkeit, Kosten zu sparen.
The company director emphasized the need to save costs.
betonen
to emphasize / stress
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Betonen' (to emphasize / stress) is an inseparable verb with the prefix 'be-'. The prefix is never separated from the verb stem, and the past participle is formed without 'ge-': 'betont'.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine Worte sehr stark betont.
He stressed his words very strongly.
Context clue: object
The object of the verb indicates the meaning. If you stress a 'Silbe' (syllable) or a 'Wort' (word), it is about pronunciation. If you emphasize a 'Notwendigkeit' (necessity) or an 'Aspekt' (aspect), it is about importance.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir zeigen, wie man dieses Wort richtig betont?
Can you show me how to stress this word correctly?
Sentence structure with subordinate clause
To highlight what is important, 'betonen' (to emphasize) is very often followed by a subordinate clause with 'dass' or an infinitive construction with 'zu'.
EXAMPLE
Die Lehrerin betonte, dass wir die Vokabeln lernen müssen.
The teacher emphasized that we have to learn the vocabulary.
Compare with
betonen vs aussprechen
to pronounce / express
'aussprechen' and 'betonen' both have to do with speaking. 'aussprechen' is used when it is about saying a word or sound correctly. It can also mean putting a thought or wish clearly into words. 'betonen' means emphasizing a syllable or word more strongly when speaking. In addition, 'betonen' can be used to say that something is especially important. Learners often confuse the words when talking about pronunciation: 'Wie spricht man das Wort aus?' (How do you pronounce the word?) asks about the sound of the word. 'Welche Silbe betont man?' (Which syllable do you stress?) asks about the stronger part of the word.
betonen
Frau Neumann betont heute, dass alle den Antrag pünktlich abgeben müssen.
Ms. Neumann emphasizes today that everyone must submit the application on time.
aussprechen
Kannst du mir zeigen, wie man diesen Namen richtig ausspricht?
Can you show me how to pronounce this name correctly?
In real life
Loading video examples...