01
der Tenor
tenor
The highest natural male singing voice in music.
example
Die Arie ist für einen Tenor mit sehr hoher Stimme geschrieben.
The aria is written for a tenor with a very high voice.
der Tenor
tenor
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
To distinguish the meanings, pay attention to the context. Words like 'Oper' (opera), 'singen' (to sing), or 'Stimme' (voice) point to the musical meaning. Words like 'Diskussion' (discussion), 'Kritik' (criticism), or 'allgemein' (general) point to the figurative meaning of the main idea.
EXAMPLE
Der Tenor der Oper war weltberühmt.
The tenor of the opera was world-famous.
Typical collocations
In the figurative meaning, 'Tenor' (tenor/gist) is often combined with 'allgemein' (general) or 'grundlegend' (basic/fundamental). Formulations with the genitive or 'von' (of/from) are also very common to clarify the reference.
EXAMPLE
Der allgemeine Tenor der Kommentare war zustimmend.
The general tenor of the comments was approving.
Register
The meaning 'Grundgedanke' (main idea) is used mainly in written language, in the news, or in more formal discussions. It sounds more educated than everyday expressions.
EXAMPLE
Der Tenor des Artikels war, dass mehr für den Umweltschutz getan werden muss.
The tenor of the article was that more must be done for environmental protection.
Musical context
In a musical context, 'Tenor' (tenor) describes either the vocal range or the singer himself. Typical adjectives here are 'lyrischer Tenor' (lyric tenor) or 'dramatischer Tenor' (dramatic tenor).
EXAMPLE
Die Rolle des Prinzen wird von einem lyrischen Tenor gesungen.
The role of the prince is sung by a lyric tenor.
Compare with
Tenor vs Tendenz
tendency / trend
'die Tendenz' and 'der Tenor' can both express a general direction. 'Tendenz' is often used for developments, numbers, opinions, or behavior. 'Tenor' fits especially when talking about the main idea of a statement, text, or discussion. So you ask about the 'Tenor' when you want to know what was said at its core. 'Tendenz' is broader and can also describe a change over time.
Tenor
Der Tenor der Besprechung war, dass das Projekt mehr Zeit braucht.
The tenor of the meeting was that the project needs more time.
Tendenz
In der Pause wurde eine klare Tendenz zu mehr Homeoffice sichtbar.
During the break, a clear trend toward more working from home became visible.
In real life
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