01
tönen
to sound
To emit or produce a tone, sound, or noise. It describes the simple sounding of something.
example
Aus dem Nebenzimmer tönte leise Musik.
Soft music sounded from the next room.
tönen
to sound / to tint / to boast
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'tönen' (to sound / to tint / to boast) is closely related to the noun 'der Ton' (tone/sound). This connection helps you understand the meanings 'to make a sound' and 'große Töne von sich geben' (to boast).
EXAMPLE
Die Glocken der Kirche tönen jeden Sonntag.
The church bells sound every Sunday.
Context clues
The three meanings can be distinguished well from context: Is it about a sound, hair, or a boastful statement? A sentence about music, hair care, or a person who is showing off makes the meaning clear.
EXAMPLE
Aus der Ferne tönte ein Horn.
A horn sounded in the distance.
Reflexive use
In the meaning 'Haare färben' (to dye/color hair), 'tönen' (to tint) is used reflexively with the dative: 'sich die Haare tönen' (to have one's hair tinted). The person is the subject, and the reflexive pronoun is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich die Haare für die Party blond getönt.
She tinted her hair blonde for the party.
Negative connotation
When a person 'tönt' (boasts), it means that they say something in a showy or arrogant way. Here the word has a clearly negative coloring.
EXAMPLE
Er tönte, dass er die Prüfung sicher bestehen würde.
He boasted that he would definitely pass the exam.
Compare with
tönen vs klingen
to sound
'klingen' and 'tönen' can both mean that something emits a tone or sound. 'klingen' is much more common in everyday language and fits music, voices, noises, or even the impression made by a statement. 'tönen' focuses more on the pure sounding of a tone and often feels somewhat more written or special. In normal conversations, people usually say 'klingen'. 'tönen' fits better when a sound clearly comes from a certain direction or when you want to describe a particular tone.
tönen
Aus dem alten Radio tönt leise Musik.
Soft music sounds from the old radio.
klingen
Im Konzertsaal klingt das Klavier besonders klar.
In the concert hall, the piano sounds especially clear.
In real life
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