to pay
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to pay
Used in fixed combinations to express that one gives someone or something a form of reverence, recognition, or respect. It is an elevated word that is often used with nouns such as respect, recognition, or tribute.
Wir müssen den Rettungskräften für ihren unermüdlichen Einsatz Respekt zollen.
We must pay the rescue workers respect for their tireless efforts.
to pay tolls
An outdated meaning for paying customs duties or fees, for example at a border or for the use of a bridge.
Früher mussten die Händler an der Stadtgrenze dem Zöllner Abgaben zollen.
In the past, merchants had to pay duties to the customs officer at the city border.
The verb 'zollen' (to pay) is closely related to the noun 'der Zoll' (customs duty, fee). The common figurative meaning today comes from the idea of giving someone a deserved 'Abgabe' (payment/tribute) in the form of recognition.
Die Sportlerin zollte ihrer Gegnerin Respekt.
The athlete paid respect to her opponent.
'Zollen' (to pay) is used with two objects. The person or thing to whom honor is shown is in the dative, and the type of honor (e.g. respect) is in the accusative: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) zollen.
Der Redner zollte den Opfern des Krieges seinen tiefsten Respekt.
The speaker paid the victims of the war his deepest respect.
The verb 'zollen' (to pay) is used almost exclusively in fixed combinations with abstract nouns. The most common are: 'Respekt zollen' (to pay respect), 'Anerkennung zollen' (to give recognition), 'Tribut zollen' (to pay tribute), and 'Beifall zollen' (to give applause).
Das Publikum zollte dem Künstler nach seinem Auftritt lauten Beifall.
The audience gave the artist loud applause after his performance.
The use of 'zollen' (to pay) is limited to a formal or elevated style. It is found in speeches, official texts, or literature, but hardly ever in everyday colloquial speech.
In seiner Abschiedsrede zollte der Direktor seinen Mitarbeitern Anerkennung für ihre langjährige Treue.
In his farewell speech, the director gave his employees recognition for their many years of loyalty.
The original meaning, to pay a monetary charge or customs duty, is outdated today. It occurs only in historical texts and is no longer actively used in modern German.
In alten Geschichten mussten Reisende an der Brücke Zoll zollen.
In old stories, travelers had to pay a toll at the bridge.
to prove / show
Both words work when showing someone respect or appreciation. Erweisen is broader and can refer to a specific honorable action or to a service; zollen is usually used in fixed expressions such as Respekt zollen. Zollen is particularly typical in such fixed expressions.
Die Kollegen zollten der langjährigen Helferin großen Respekt.
The colleagues paid the long-serving volunteer great respect.
Die Gemeinde erwies der langjährigen Helferin mit einem Fest große Anerkennung.
The community showed the long-serving volunteer great appreciation with a celebration.
