monotonous
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monotonous
Without variety and therefore perceived as boring. Describes an activity, a landscape, or a situation that repeats over and over and offers no variety.
Seine tägliche Arbeit am Fließband war eintönig und erfüllte ihn nicht.
His daily work on the assembly line was monotonous and did not fulfill him.
The word is made up of 'ein' (one) and 'tönig' (from 'der Ton' — tone). So it literally describes something that has only one single tone and therefore offers no melody or variety.
Die monotone Stimme des Sprechers wirkte sehr eintönig.
The speaker's monotone voice sounded very monotonous.
'Eintönig' (monotonous) is often used to describe repetitive and unstimulating things. Typical combinations are 'eintönige Arbeit' (monotonous work), 'ein eintöniger Alltag' (a monotonous daily routine), or 'eine eintönige Landschaft' (a monotonous landscape).
Nach Jahren im selben Job fand er seinen Alltag nur noch eintönig.
After years in the same job, he found his daily routine only monotonous.
Although 'eintönig' (monotonous) usually describes activities or situations, it can also refer to people. An 'eintönige Person' (monotonous person) is someone perceived as boring and lacking interesting qualities.
Er gilt als etwas eintöniger Mensch, weil er immer nur über seine Arbeit spricht.
He is considered a somewhat monotonous person because he only ever talks about his work.
boring
Langweilig and eintönig can both describe an uninteresting activity. Langweilig is the more general evaluation; eintönig identifies a lack of variety and constant repetition as the reason. Use eintönig when this uniform, repetitive process is the important point.
Die Arbeit ist eintönig, weil ich jeden Tag dieselben Formulare ausfülle.
The work is monotonous because I fill out the same forms every day.
Die Arbeit ist langweilig, weil sie mich überhaupt nicht interessiert.
The work is boring because it does not interest me at all.
