el tono

the tone

Example Sentence

Con ese tono, tu frase suena muy brusca.

With that tone, your phrase sounds very harsh.

Meaning

el tono is tone, meaning the attitude your words communicate. Managing el tono is key to sounding polite and calm.

Common Phrases

  • un tono amable — a friendly tone
  • cambiar el tono — to change the tone
  • tono de voz — tone of voice

Example

Tu tono puede sonar brusco en un mensaje.

Your tone can sound harsh in a message.

Common Mistake

Over-literal phrasing: everyday Spanish often prefers tono de voz over tono de la voz.