to read / sound
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to read
To have a particular wording or content. Used to reproduce the exact text of a statement, question, address, or rule.
Die Frage im Test lautet: 'Was ist die Hauptstadt von Deutschland?'
The question on the test reads: 'What is the capital of Germany?'
to sound
To produce a noise or sound. This meaning is now outdated or limited to poetic language.
Die Glocken lauten den Sonntag ein.
The bells sound in the arrival of Sunday.
The verb 'lauten' (to read/sound) is related to the noun 'der Laut' (the sound, the noise). So it originally describes how something sounds or is heard, which makes today's main meaning, 'einen bestimmten Wortlaut haben' (to have a particular wording), understandable.
Die erste Strophe des Gedichts lautet anders als ich dachte.
The first stanza of the poem reads differently than I thought.
'Lauten' (to read) is used to introduce the exact content of something written or spoken. The subject is often a word like 'die Frage' (the question), 'die Regel' (the rule), or 'die Adresse' (the address), followed by 'lautet' and the direct content.
Die offizielle Adresse lautet: Hauptstraße 1, 10115 Berlin.
The official address is: Hauptstraße 1, 10115 Berlin.
Common subjects for 'lauten' (to read) are words that have fixed content. These include: die Antwort (the answer), der Befehl (the order), die Diagnose (the diagnosis), das Motto (the motto), der Vorwurf (the accusation), or das Urteil (the verdict).
Das Motto des Festivals lautet „Musik verbindet“.
The motto of the festival is 'Music connects'.
The meaning 'to make a noise' is very rare today and is used almost only in poetic or old-fashioned language. In normal usage, this use is uncommon.
In dem Gedicht lauten die Abendglocken über dem Tal.
In the poem, the evening bells sound over the valley.
to be called / to mean
Heißen can convey the content or meaning of an answer without giving its exact wording. Lauten focuses more on the specific phrasing. Use heißen for a reproduction of the content and lauten for the exact wording.
Die Antwort lautet: „Kommt morgen um acht Uhr.“
The answer reads: “Come tomorrow at eight o’clock.”
Die Antwort heißt, dass wir morgen um acht Uhr kommen sollen.
The answer means that we are supposed to come tomorrow at eight o’clock.
