French word

tonus

Pronunciation

IPA/tonys/

Meaning

  • masculine nounenergy

Example

Il a beaucoup de tonus.

He has a lot of energy.

Illustration for tonus (energy)

More examples

Après les vacances, elle a encore du tonus.

After the vacation, she still has energy.

Core concept

A body held ready for action, combining visible vitality with the inner firmness of its muscles.

Common phrases

  • avoir du tonus

    have energy

  • perdre du tonus

    lose energy

  • manquer de tonus

    lack energy

Similar words

énergie: The strength and energy needed for movement.
forme: A state of good physical fitness and health.

Definition in French

État de vitalité ou d'énergie d'une personne; employé aussi en médecine pour la tension des muscles.

Word origin

French tonus is a medical borrowing from Latin tonus, itself from Greek tonos, meaning tension, with French usage extending the term to general energy.

Usage tips

  • The final s in tonus is pronounced in French, approximately like the s in English loose.

Other meanings

  • muscle tonenoun

Opposites

  • léthargielethargynoun
  • fatiguefatiguenoun

Related words

  • tonifiertone upverb
  • toniqueenergeticadjective
  • tonifiantenergizingadjective

Word lists with this word