German word

Kehle

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkeːlə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounthroat

Example

Er hat eine kratzige Kehle.

He has a scratchy throat.

Illustration for Kehle (throat)

More examples

Sie hatte einen Kloß in der Kehle.

She had a lump in her throat.

Core concept

The inner neck passage serves both speaking and swallowing, so irritation there can make the voice sound rough.

Common phrases

  • einen Kloß in der Kehle haben

    have a lump in one's throat

  • sich die Kehle räuspern

    clear one's throat

  • trockene Kehle

    dry throat

Similar words

Hals: The area joining the head to the body on the outside.
Rachen: The upper inner throat through which food and air pass.
Kehlkopf: The organ in the throat whose vocal cords create sound.
Gurgel: An informal word for the throat.

Definition in German

Der innere Teil des Halses, speziell der Bereich der Stimmbildung und des Schluckens.

Word origin

Kehle belongs to an inherited Germanic word family and is attested in older German forms such as Old High German chela.

Usage tips

  • Kehle commonly refers to the inner throat, while Hals more broadly denotes the neck and throat area.

Related words

  • Kehlkopflarynxnoun
  • kehligthroatyadjective

Word lists with this word