Voice Care in English
Talk about looking after your voice – and what to do when it's tired.
Singers, teachers and anyone who talks a lot need to look after their voice. Learn the words for common voice problems and the advice voice coaches give. This page is about language, not medical advice: if you are hoarse for more than two or three weeks, see a doctor.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| vocal folds · vocal cords | Stimmlippen · Stimmbänder | The vocal folds vibrate when you speak. |
| hoarse | heiser | I'm hoarse after shouting at the match. |
| to lose your voice | die Stimme verlieren | I lost my voice the day before the concert. |
| sore throat | Halsschmerzen | I've got a sore throat and a cold. |
| to strain your voice | die Stimme überanstrengen | Don't strain your voice by singing too loudly. |
| to clear your throat | sich räuspern | Try to swallow instead of clearing your throat. |
| to warm up | sich einsingen, aufwärmen | Always warm up before a rehearsal. |
| to rest your voice | die Stimme schonen | Rest your voice for a day after a long concert. |
| hydration | Flüssigkeitszufuhr | Hydration is important – drink water through the day. |
| ENT doctor | HNO-Arzt, HNO-Ärztin | If the hoarseness doesn't go away, see an ENT doctor. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- vocal health
- a tired voice
- to drink plenty of water
- vocal warm-up
- to give your voice a rest
- to push your voice
- a frog in your throat
- dry air
"Sorry – I've got a bit of a frog in my throat this morning."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Describing a voice problem
- My voice feels tired.
- It hurts when I sing high notes.
- I've been hoarse for a few days.
- My voice cracks on the top notes.
Giving advice
- You should rest your voice.
- Try a gentle warm-up first.
- Don't whisper – it can strain your voice too.
- If it doesn't get better, see a specialist.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Have you ever lost your voice? What happened?
- How do you warm up your voice?
- What do you do when your voice feels tired?
- Which jobs are hardest on the voice?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is "heiser" in English?
Hoarse.
2. What does "a frog in your throat" mean?
Your voice sounds rough and you need to clear your throat.
3. What is "die Stimme schonen" in English?
To rest your voice.
Explore More
More pages in the Voice & Singing series.
Look after your voice.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and enjoy using your voice in English.
Warm up. Drink water. Rest.