German word

Tonne

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtɔnə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbin

Example

Stell die Tonnen bitte an die Straße.

Please put the bins out by the road.

Illustration for Tonne (bin)

More examples

Wirf bitte den Karton in die Tonne.

Please throw the cardboard into the bin.

Core concept

A large lidded container on wheels stands at the curb, while the same word can also name a very large weight.

Common phrases

  • in die Tonne werfen

    throw in the bin

  • die Tonne leeren

    empty the bin

Similar words

Mülltonne: A household rubbish bin with a lid and wheels, placed outside on collection days.
Mülleimer: A small indoor wastebasket kept near a desk or other living space.
Müllcontainer: A large communal waste container collected by truck from residential or commercial sites.
Eimer: A small bucket with a handle for cleaning tasks and carrying items.

Definition in German

Großer Behälter für Müll, häufig mobil (mit Rollen) und zur Straßenabholung bestimmt.

Word origin

German Tonne comes through Old High German tunna from Latin tunna, a borrowed word for a large container or barrel that also underlies English ton.

Usage tips

  • Tonne is feminine, so the forms are die Tonne and die Tonnen; context distinguishes a waste bin from the metric unit ton.

Other meanings

  • tonnoun

Related words

  • tonnenweiseby the tonadverb
  • Tonnagetonnagenoun

Word lists with this word