noun
Uncommon
tonne
tuhn
Also spelled ton (US spelling)
Tonne (noun) means a metric unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. Example: “The cargo ship can carry thousands of tonnes of grain.”
noun
1
A metric unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms.
"Although loads of up to 900 tonnes could be handled by one of these locomotives, in practice the load is limited to 790 tonnes by drawgear."
— , Letters to the Editor: Swiss railways (1961)
"The cargo ship can carry thousands of tonnes of grain."
How to use tonne
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe metric version of a "ton" — always exactly 1000 kg.
UK vs US
British English commonly spells this "tonne" for the metric unit and reserves "ton" for the imperial unit; American English typically just uses "ton" or "metric ton."
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Word forms
- Plural
- tonnes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cargo ship can carry thousands of _____ of grain.
Etymology
From French tonne; a doublet of "ton" and "tun."
Synonyms
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t
MT
metric ton
Related words
Rhymes for tonne
See all rhymes for tonne →Frequently asked questions
What does “tonne” mean?
The word “tonne” means a metric unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. In plain terms, the metric version of a "ton" — always exactly 1000 kg.
How do you pronounce “tonne”?
“Tonne” is pronounced tuhn (/tʌn/ in IPA).
How do you use “tonne” in a sentence?
Here is “tonne” used in a sentence: “The cargo ship can carry thousands of tonnes of grain.”
What part of speech is “tonne”?
“Tonne” is a noun.
Where does the word “tonne” come from?
The word “tonne” comes from French. From French tonne; a doublet of "ton" and "tun.".
Is “tonne” a common word?
“Tonne” is an uncommon word in modern English.
