der Föhn
hair dryer
An electrical device that produces a stream of warm air to dry hair.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss mir noch schnell mit dem Föhn die Haare trocknen, bevor wir gehen.
I quickly need to dry my hair with the hair dryer before we go.
der Föhn
hair dryer / foehn
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Meanings
der Föhn
foehn wind
A warm, dry downslope wind that occurs especially often on the northern side of the Alps.
EXAMPLE
Wenn der Föhn weht, klagen viele Menschen in den Alpentälern über Kopfschmerzen.
When the foehn wind blows, many people in the Alpine valleys complain of headaches.
Usage tips
Context clue
The context tells you whether the device or the wind is meant. If you are talking about hair, the bathroom, or electrical appliances, it means the hair dryer. If it is about weather, the Alps, wind, or headaches, it means the weather phenomenon.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir den Föhn geben? Meine Haare sind noch nass.
Can you give me the hair dryer? My hair is still wet.
Word family
The verb 'föhnen' (to blow-dry) is derived from the noun 'der Föhn' (hair dryer). So you can say: 'Ich trockne meine Haare mit dem Föhn' (I dry my hair with the hair dryer) or, more briefly: 'Ich föhne meine Haare' (I blow-dry my hair).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Schwimmen föhne ich mir immer die Haare.
After swimming, I always blow-dry my hair.
Typical collocations
The foehn wind as a weather phenomenon is often associated with physical discomfort. Typical statements are that you 'bei Föhn Kopfschmerzen hat' (have headaches when there is a foehn wind) or 'sich wegen des Föhns unwohl fühlt' (feel unwell because of the foehn wind).
EXAMPLE
Meine Großmutter spürt den Föhn immer in ihren Gelenken.
My grandmother always feels the foehn wind in her joints.
Compare with
Föhn vs Trockner
dryer
Trockner can generally refer to a device used for drying, but without any further specification it usually means a clothes dryer. Föhn is the usual standalone term for a device used to dry hair. Trockner is therefore used for laundry, while Föhn is used for hair.
Föhn
Nach dem Waschen trocknet Mia ihre nassen Haare mit dem Föhn.
After washing her hair, Mia dries it with the hair dryer.
Trockner
Nach dem Waschen kommen die nassen Handtücher in den Trockner.
After washing them, the wet towels go in the dryer.
In real life
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