ticking
das Ticken
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ticking
A regularly recurring, usually quiet sound produced when a clock or another device ticks.
Im stillen Zimmer war nur das Ticken der alten Wanduhr zu hören.
In the quiet room, the only sound was the ticking of the old wall clock.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Tickens |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Ticken | – |
| accusative | das Ticken | – |
| dative | dem Ticken | – |
| genitive | des Tickens | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Das Ticken' (ticking) is derived from the verb 'ticken' (to tick) and refers to the action or the sound produced by it. As a noun, it is often used with a specific source in the genitive.
Das Ticken der Küchenuhr störte ihn beim Einschlafen.
The ticking of the kitchen clock disturbed him while he was falling asleep.
Common collocations include 'leises Ticken' (quiet ticking), 'regelmäßiges Ticken' (regular ticking), and 'das Ticken hören' (to hear the ticking). The sound is often mentioned together with a clock or a technical device.
Durch die geschlossene Tür hörte man noch das regelmäßige Ticken der Uhr.
Through the closed door, you could still hear the regular ticking of the clock.
The source of the sound is often expressed with 'von' or the genitive: 'das Ticken von …' (the ticking of …) or 'das Ticken der …' (the ticking of the …). This makes it clear in the sentence which device is producing the sound.
Das Ticken von Omas Wecker war bis in den Flur zu hören.
The ticking of Grandma's alarm clock could be heard all the way down the hall.
