Inklingo

garganta

/gar-GAN-tah/

throat

A simple profile illustration of a person's head and neck, clearly highlighting the exterior throat area.

When referring to the body part, 'garganta' translates to throat.

garganta(noun)

fA1

throat

?

the body part

Also:

voice

?

referring to the quality of sound

📝 In Action

Me duele la garganta y tengo fiebre.

A1

My throat hurts and I have a fever.

Ella tiene una garganta muy potente para cantar ópera.

B1

She has a very powerful voice for singing opera.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • gaznate (throat (informal))

Common Collocations

  • dolor de gargantasore throat
  • aclarar la gargantato clear one's throat

Idioms & Expressions

  • tener un nudo en la gargantato feel very emotional or anxious, preventing speech
  • mojar la gargantato have a drink (usually alcohol)

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun Rule

Remember that 'garganta' is always a feminine word, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Garganta' and 'Cuello'

Mistake: "Using 'cuello' (neck, the outside part) when referring to the inside passage."

Correction: 'Garganta' is the inner tube for air and food; 'cuello' is the outer part that holds up your head. Use 'garganta' when talking about illness or swallowing.

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing Illness

When talking about pain, use the structure 'Me duele la garganta' (My throat hurts), rather than trying to translate 'I have a sore throat' literally.

A landscape illustration depicting a deep, narrow gorge with steep rocky walls on both sides and a small river flowing through the base.

'Garganta' can also be used to describe a gorge or narrow ravine.

garganta(noun)

fB2

gorge

?

narrow valley or ravine

,

pass

?

narrow passage between mountains

Also:

neck

?

of a bottle or vessel

📝 In Action

Tuvimos que cruzar una garganta muy estrecha para llegar al valle.

B2

We had to cross a very narrow gorge to reach the valley.

La garganta de la botella es demasiado pequeña para el cepillo.

B1

The neck of the bottle is too small for the brush.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desfiladero (gorge, canyon)
  • cuello (neck (of a bottle))

⭐ Usage Tips

Context Clues

If you see 'garganta' used with words related to geography (like 'río', 'montaña', 'valle'), it almost certainly means a narrow pass or canyon.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: garganta

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'garganta' in its figurative, non-body part meaning?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'garganta' the same as 'cuello'?

No. 'Garganta' refers to the internal passage, the part you use to swallow and breathe. 'Cuello' means the external neck, the part you wear a shirt collar on.

How do I say 'to gargle' in Spanish?

The verb is 'hacer gárgaras' (literally, 'to do gargles'). For example: 'Hice gárgaras con agua salada.'