In German
Hals
Meaning: neck, throat
Example sentences
MeinHalstutweh.
My throat hurts.
SieträgteineKetteumdenHals.
She wears a necklace around her neck.
ErhateinensteifenHals.
He has a stiff neck.
Grammar note
“Der Hals” is masculine with an irregular plural: “die Hälse”, adding an umlaut. It covers both “neck” and “throat” — German doesn't distinguish them the way English does.
Common mistake
Don't look for a separate word for “throat” — “Hals” covers both the outer neck and the inner throat in everyday speech.
Quick check
Which word means both “neck” and “throat”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
Does German distinguish “neck” from “throat”?
Not in everyday speech — “Hals” covers both. Medical German has more specific terms like “Kehle” for the throat passage.
What's the plural of “Hals”?
“Die Hälse”, with an umlaut.