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τόνος

tone /ˈto.nos/

nounB2#2087 most common

Also: accent mark, tension, muscle tone

Example sentences

Αυτή η λέξη έχει τόνο.
This word has a stress accent.
Πού βάζουμε τον τόνο σε αυτή τη λέξη;
Where do we put the accent mark in this word?
Μίλησε με ήρεμο τόνο.
He spoke in a calm tone.
Ο γιατρός εξέτασε τον μυϊκό τόνο του ασθενή.
The doctor examined the patient's muscle tone.
Ο τόνος της συζήτησης άλλαξε απότομα μετά την ανακοίνωση.
The tone of the discussion changed abruptly after the announcement.
Στη μουσική θεωρία, ο τόνος είναι το διάστημα ανάμεσα σε δύο φθόγγους.
In music theory, a tone is the interval between two notes.

Declension

CaseSingularPlural
Nominativeτόνοςτόνοι
Genitiveτόνουτόνων
Accusativeτόνοτόνους
Vocativeτόνετόνοι

Word family

τείνωto stretch
τονίζωto stress, emphasize, put an accent on
τάσηtension, voltage, trend
έντονοςintense, strong
τένονταςtendon

Etymology

Τόνος comes from the verb τείνω, meaning to stretch. A stretched string under tension produces a pitch, and that link between physical tension and sound gave the noun its range of senses: tone, pitch, and later the written accent mark that shows which syllable carries stress. The word passed into Latin as tonus and from there into English as tone.

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