to echo / resound
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to echo
A sound that echoes and reverberates in a large or empty room. The sound is reflected back by the walls and creates an echo effect.
Seine Schritte hallten in dem langen, leeren Korridor.
His footsteps echoed in the long, empty corridor.
to echo
In a figurative sense, when words, events, or feelings have a strong and lasting presence or effect.
Ihre warnenden Worte hallten noch lange in seinen Gedanken nach.
Her warning words echoed in his thoughts for a long time.
The verb 'hallen' (to echo/resound) is closely related to the noun 'der Hall' (echo/reverberation), which means 'Echo' or 'Widerhall' (reverberation). So when something 'hallt' (echoes), it creates a 'Hall' (echo/reverberation).
Der laute Knall erzeugte einen langen Hall in den Bergen.
The loud bang created a long echo in the mountains.
In the literal meaning, the subject of the sentence is the sound (e.g., the voice, the footsteps). The place where it echoes is usually given with the preposition 'in' + dative.
Ihre Rufe hallten durch den verlassenen Bahnhof.
Her calls echoed through the abandoned train station.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that the subject of the sentence is abstract. When 'Worte' (words), 'Erinnerungen' (memories), or 'Ereignisse' (events) 'hallen' (echo), it means the lingering psychological effect, not an acoustic phenomenon.
Sein Versprechen hallte noch lange in ihren Ohren nach.
His promise echoed in her ears for a long time.
In the figurative meaning, 'hallen' (to echo) is often combined with abstract nouns that describe a memory or an impression. Typical phrases are 'die Worte hallen nach' (the words continue to echo), 'die Erinnerung hallt nach' (the memory continues to echo), or 'das Echo hallt nach' (the echo continues to reverberate).
Die schrecklichen Bilder des Unfalls hallten noch wochenlang in ihm nach.
The terrible images of the accident echoed within him for weeks.
to resound
Both verbs describe a clearly audible sound. Hallen emphasizes that the sound is reflected by walls and continues to reverberate; schallen emphasizes that a loud sound spreads far. In large rooms, both aspects can be present at the same time.
Ihr Ruf hallte in der leeren Bahnhofshalle noch lange nach.
Her call continued to echo through the empty train station for a long time.
Ihr lauter Ruf schallte durch die ganze Bahnhofshalle.
Her loud call resounded throughout the entire train station.
