nachklingen

Nachklingen is a German verb meaning to continue to sound or to linger in sound after the initial sound has ended. The related noun das Nachklingen denotes the lingering resonance itself, such as the tail of a note or chord. The term is formed from nach- meaning “after” and klingen meaning “to sound.”

In music and acoustics, Nachklingen describes the sonic tail that remains after a note or chord stops actively sounding. The duration and character of this residual sound depend on factors such as instrument construction, playing technique, and the surrounding acoustics. Critics and musicians may discuss Nachklingen to describe a tone’s fullness, atmosphere, or reverberant quality.

Beyond music, Nachklingen is used metaphorically in literature, theater, and film criticism to refer to lasting impressions or echoes of a moment, argument, or image. For example, a scene may leave Nachklingen in the audience’s memory, shaping interpretation long after the event.

In everyday language, the concept is sometimes linked to the broader idea of resonance or aftertaste, though in German usage Nachklingen is primarily about auditory or experiential persistence rather than taste or smell. Related terms include Nachklang, Nachhall, and Resonanz, which are often used in similar contexts to describe lingering effects or reverberations.