der
Kehlkopf
🎙️ What exactly is 'der Kehlkopf'?
Der Kehlkopf (the larynx in English, Latin: Larynx) is an organ in the neck of mammals, including humans. It is located at the junction of the pharynx (Rachen) and the trachea (Luftröhre).
Its main functions are:
- 🗣️ Voice production (phonation) through the vibration of the vocal cords (Stimmbänder).
- 🌬️ Protecting the lower airways (trachea, lungs) from food or foreign objects during swallowing (using the epiglottis - Kehldeckel).
- 💨 Regulating breathing.
Since the word only exists with the article „der“, there are no different meanings depending on the article. It is a clearly defined anatomical term.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-pf → always masculine.
📐 Grammar: 'Der Kehlkopf' in Detail
The noun „Kehlkopf“ is masculine. The article is „der“. Here is the declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Kehlkopf |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Kehlkopf(e)s |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Kehlkopf(e) |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Kehlkopf |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kehlköpfe |
| Genitive | der | Kehlköpfe |
| Dative | den | Kehlköpfen |
| Accusative | die | Kehlköpfe |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Arzt untersuchte den Kehlkopf des Patienten. (The doctor examined the patient's larynx.)
- Singen beansprucht die Muskeln des Kehlkopfes stark. (Singing puts a lot of strain on the muscles of the larynx.)
- Eine Entzündung im Kehlkopf kann Heiserkeit verursachen. (An inflammation in the larynx can cause hoarseness.)
- Die Stimmbänder befinden sich innerhalb der Kehlköpfe. (The vocal cords are located within the larynges - although each person only has one, the plural is used here anatomically for the structure or when talking about multiple people).
🗣️ How to use 'Kehlkopf'?
„Kehlkopf“ is mainly used in medical and biological contexts. It's discussed in relation to:
- ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) diseases (e.g., laryngitis - Kehlkopfentzündung)
- Surgeries in the neck area
- Descriptions of human anatomy
- Discussions about voice production, singing, and speaking
In everyday life (Alltag), the word is heard less often, unless specific symptoms like hoarseness (Heiserkeit) are involved. A related, visible part, especially in men, is the Adam's apple (Adamsapfel), which is part of the laryngeal skeleton (Kehlkopfskelett).
Risk of Confusion: Sometimes „Kehle“ (throat or the front neck area) might be used colloquially where „Kehlkopf“ might be more precise, but „Kehlkopf“ is the specific anatomical term for the organ.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic (der): Think of Der Adamsapfel (Adam's apple), which you often see – this is part of der Kehlkopf structure. The visible 'lump' helps remember 'der'. Or imagine a sturdy, masculine 'Der' guarding the airway entrance, like Der guard at the throat.
Meaning Mnemonic: The Kehl-Kopf is the 'head' (Kopf) of the 'throat' (Kehle, in the sense of airway/food passage), where the voice lives. Imagine a little head (Kopf) at the top of your throat (Kehle) making sounds.
🔄 Synonyms & Opposites
Same Meaning (Synonyms)
- Larynx (Latin/medical term, used in English too)
- Stimmorgan (voice organ - refers to function, not just anatomy)
Similar, but Different Terms
- Kehle: Throat - the pharynx or the front area of the neck. Not the specific organ.
- Rachen (Pharynx): The area behind the mouth and nose, above the larynx and esophagus.
- Luftröhre (Trachea): The windpipe below the larynx leading to the lungs.
- Stimmbänder (Vocal cords): Parts inside the larynx that produce sound.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum hat der Sänger Halsschmerzen? Er hat wohl zu viele Töne im Kehlkopf angestoßen!
English: Why does the singer have a sore throat? He probably hit too many notes in his larynx! 😉 (This is a pun, 'Töne anstoßen' can mean 'to hit notes' or 'to bump into tones')
✒️ Poem about the Kehlkopf
German:
Im Halse sitzt, nicht Kopf, nicht Bauch,
Der Kehlkopf ist's, ein edler Strauch.
Er lässt uns sprechen, singen, lachen,
Kann aber auch mal Ärger machen.
Beschützt die Luft, formt jeden Laut,
Ein Wunderwerk, das uns vertraut.
English Translation:
In the throat it sits, not head, not belly,
The larynx it is, a noble branch, you see.
It lets us speak, sing, and laugh with might,
But sometimes it can cause a plight.
Protects the air, forms every sound,
A marvel that's to us well-bound.
❓ Riddle Time
German:
Ich sitze im Hals, bin aber kein Schal.
Ich helfe dir reden, bei Freud und bei Qual.
Bei Männern sieht man mich manchmal recht gut,
Ich schütze die Luftröhre mit Hut (Kehldeckel).
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I sit in the throat, but I'm not a scarf.
I help you talk, through joy and through hardship's path.
In men, you can sometimes see me quite well,
I protect the windpipe with a lid (epiglottis) to tell.
What am I?
Solution: Der Kehlkopf (The Larynx)
💡 More Interesting Facts
Word Composition
The word „Kehlkopf“ is a compound noun, composed of:
- Kehle: Refers to the throat area, especially the front part and the pharynx.
- Kopf: Here, it means 'head' more in the sense of 'top end' or 'important part' of the throat, not the actual head of the body.
Trivia
- The so-called „Adamsapfel“ (Adam's apple) is the visible part of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx and is usually more prominent in men after puberty due to hormones than in women.
- Pitch (Stimmhöhe) is regulated by the tension and length of the vocal cords (Stimmbänder) within the larynx.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kehlkopf?
The word "Kehlkopf" is always masculine. The correct form is: der Kehlkopf. The plural is "die Kehlköpfe". It refers to the organ in the throat responsible for voice production and protecting the airway, commonly known as the larynx or voice box.