die
Kehle
🗣️ What does "die Kehle" mean?
Die Kehle primarily refers to the front part of the neck containing the windpipe and esophagus – essentially, the throat. It's a key term in anatomy but also relates to the voice or the feeling of choking or constriction.
- Anatomically: The area between the pharynx (Rachen) and the chest, vital for breathing (Atmung) and swallowing (Schlucken). Example: Er hat Halsschmerzen, seine Kehle ist entzündet. (He has a sore throat, his throat is inflamed.)
- Voice/Singing: Used metonymically for the ability to sing or speak. Example: Die Sängerin hat eine wunderbare Kehle. (The singer has a wonderful voice/throat.)
- Figuratively: Often used in idioms expressing tightness, fear, or thirst. Example: Die Angst schnürte ihm die Kehle zu. (Fear constricted his throat.)
⚠️ It's important not to confuse die Kehle (throat) with der Hals (neck/throat), although they can sometimes be used synonymously. 'Kehle' is more specific to the inner, frontal area.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📊 Grammar in Detail: Die Kehle
The word "Kehle" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kehle |
| Genitive | der | Kehle |
| Dative | der | Kehle |
| Accusative | die | Kehle |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kehlen |
| Genitive | der | Kehlen |
| Dative | den | Kehlen |
| Accusative | die | Kehlen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Mir tut die Kehle weh.
(My throat hurts. - Although it looks like Accusative, 'die Kehle' is the subject of 'weh tun' here) - Der Arzt untersuchte die Kehle des Patienten.
(The doctor examined the patient's throat. - Accusative) - Er spürte einen Kloß in der Kehle.
(He felt a lump in his throat. - Dative) - Das Innere der Kehle war gerötet.
(The inside of the throat was red. - Genitive) - Die Sänger sangen aus vollen Kehlen.
(The singers sang at the top of their lungs / from full throats. - Dative Plural)
💡 Usage and Context for Die Kehle
"Die Kehle" is used in various contexts:
- Medical/Biological: Describing symptoms (Halsschmerzen - sore throat, Schluckbeschwerden - difficulty swallowing) or anatomical structures.
- Everyday Language: Often related to thirst (eine trockene Kehle haben - to have a dry throat), emotions (ein Kloß in der Kehle - a lump in the throat, die Kehle zugeschnürt - throat constricted with fear/emotion), or volume (aus voller Kehle schreien/singen - to shout/sing at the top of one's lungs).
- Figurative: In idioms like jemandem das Messer an die Kehle setzen (to put a knife to someone's throat, meaning to put someone under extreme pressure) or sich die Kehle ölen (lit. 'to oil one's throat', meaning to drink alcohol, often to improve singing/speaking).
- Technical/Architectural (rare): Sometimes for a narrowing or a narrow passage (Kehle einer Rinne - throat of a gutter, Kehle eines Gewölbes - throat of a vault).
Compared to "der Hals" (neck/throat), "die Kehle" is more specific to the front, inner part and is more frequently used in emotional or voice-related contexts.
🧠 Memory Aids for "die Kehle"
Here are a couple of mnemonics:
For the article 'die': Think of die Stimme (the voice) that comes from die Kehle. Also, many feminine German nouns end in '-e' (die Nase, die Zunge, die Lippe, die Kehle).
For the meaning 'throat': Imagine cool water going down the dry Kehle - the 'e' at the end might remind you of the throat passage.
🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
Direct antonyms are difficult. In an anatomical context, you could name external parts:
- Der Nacken: The nape (back of the neck).
⚠️ Potential Confusion:
- Die Kelle: A tool (trowel, ladle). Sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Sänger immer einen Schal um?
Damit seine Kehle nicht auf dumme Gedanken kommt und einen Solopart anfängt!
EN: Why does the singer always wear a scarf?
So his throat doesn't get any funny ideas and start a solo part!
📜 Poetry Corner
DE:
Die Kehle, eng und manchmal wund,
Bringt Töne hervor aus tiefstem Grund.
Sie schluckt das Brot, die Luft sie zieht,
Ein Wunderwerk, das Leben gibt.Ob Flüstern leis, ob lauter Schrei,
Die Kehle ist stets mit dabei.
EN:
The throat, so narrow, sometimes sore,
Brings forth sounds from the deepest core.
It swallows bread, it draws the air,
A miracle beyond compare.
Whether soft whispers or a loud cry,
The throat is always standing by.
🧩 Riddle Time
DE:
Ich bin vorn am Hals, nicht hinten zu sehn,
Durch mich muss die Luft und das Essen gehn.
Manchmal bin ich trocken, manchmal tut's weh,
Sänger brauchen mich für ihr "Trallalee".
Was bin ich?
EN:
I'm at the front of the neck, not seen from behind,
Through me, air and food their passage must find.
Sometimes I am dry, sometimes I ache,
Singers need me for the sounds that they make.
What am I?
Solution: die Kehle (the throat)
🧐 Other Interesting Information
Etymology: The word "Kehle" comes from the Old High German word "kela", which also meant "throat" or "gullet". It is related to the Latin "gula" (gullet, throat) and the English "gullet".
Idioms in Detail:
- Etwas in den falschen Hals bekommen (colloquially also: in die falsche Kehle): Lit. 'to get something into the wrong throat' - means to take offense at something, misunderstand something negatively, or simply to choke on food/drink.
- Eine geölte Kehle haben: Lit. 'to have an oiled throat' - means to be able to speak or sing well and fluently (often humorously referring to alcohol consumption).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kehle?
The German word "Kehle" means "throat" and is always feminine. The correct article is die Kehle.