stöhnen
/ˈʃtøːnən/
To moan in German is to say stöhnen. Wiktionary also lists ächzen.
Meaning: to make a moan or similar sound (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| stöhnen | /ˈʃtøːnən/ |
| ächzen | /ˈɛçt͡sən/ |
Which one should you use?
While both verbs relate to making moaning sounds, they carry different connotations. stöhnen is typically used for a continuous sound of pleasure or steady, rhythmic pain. In contrast, ächzen is typically used for a heavy, labored sound caused by physical effort, exhaustion or deep mental distress.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the past, you can use stöhnte, which is the simple past tense form of stöhnen. For ächzen, the past participle is geächzt, which is used to form the perfect tense (e.g., hat geächzt).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃtøːnən/
Did you know?
- The German verb stöhnen shares an ancestral root with the English word 'stun', suggesting a historical link between making sounds and being dazed or incapacitated.
- In German, you can use ächzen to describe an inanimate object, such as a floorboard or a heavy piece of furniture that is under pressure.
- While 'moan' in English is often used metaphorically for complaining, Germans would more likely use the verb jammern for that specific sense of whining.
Examples in context
- Als die Präsentation fehlschlug, konnte man vereinzelt Stöhnen im Publikum hören.When the presentation failed, one could hear occasional moans from the audience.
- "Oh nein, nicht schon wieder!", jammernd ächzte er und setzte sich auf den Boden."Oh no, not again!" he moaned and sat down on the floor.
- Er stöhnte vor Erschöpfung.He groaned from exhaustion.
- Er begann leise zu stöhnen.He began to moan softly.
- Ich kann dein Stöhnen hören.I can hear your moaning.
Example conversation
Julian is struggling to lift a heavy box.
- JulianDas ist viel zu schwer!This is way too heavy!
- SarahWarum musst du so laut stöhnen, Julian?Why are you moaning so loudly, Julian?
- JulianIch kann es kaum heben.I can hardly lift it.
- SarahIch helfe dir jetzt.I will help you now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moan” translations and entries stöhnen, ächzen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries stöhnen, ächzen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
