die Gurgel
throat
A colloquial term for the neck or throat, especially the front inner part of the neck.
EXAMPLE
Der Wolf biss dem Schaf die Gurgel durch.
The wolf bit through the sheep's throat.
die Gurgel
throat
die Gurgel, die Gurgeln
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Meanings
an die Gurgel gehen
to go for someone's throat
To attack or threaten someone aggressively, usually during an argument or in a figurative sense.
EXAMPLE
Die beiden gingen sich wegen des Geldes fast an die Gurgel.
The two of them almost went for each other's throats over the money.
sich die Gurgel ölen
to wet one's whistle
Colloquial and humorous: to drink alcohol.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Arbeit wollten sie sich in der Kneipe die Gurgel ölen.
After work, they wanted to wet their whistles at the pub.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Gurgel, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Gurgeln |
| genitive | der Gurgel |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Gurgel | die Gurgeln |
| accusative | die Gurgel | die Gurgeln |
| dative | der Gurgel | den Gurgeln |
| genitive | der Gurgel | der Gurgeln |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
Typical collocations include „jemanden an der Gurgel packen“ (to grab someone by the throat) and „jemandem die Gurgel zudrücken“ (to squeeze someone's throat). They describe a violent grip on the front part of the neck.
EXAMPLE
Der Wachmann packte den Einbrecher an der Gurgel.
The security guard grabbed the burglar by the throat.
Fixed construction
In this expression, the person being attacked is in the dative: jemandem an die Gurgel gehen (to go for someone's throat). „An die Gurgel“ indicates the target of the attack.
EXAMPLE
Am liebsten wäre er seinem Chef an die Gurgel gegangen.
He would have loved to go for his boss's throat.
Fixed expression
The expression „sich die Gurgel ölen“ (to wet one's whistle) is used with a reflexive pronoun and the accusative „die Gurgel“. It is usually used humorously in situations involving drinking.
EXAMPLE
„Ich öle mir erst mal die Gurgel“, scherzte der Gastgeber und schenkte sich ein Glas Wein ein.
“I'll wet my whistle first,” the host joked, pouring himself a glass of wine.
In real life
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