US Medical Term · anatomy
Larynx
Laringe
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Larynx |
| Spanish (Español) | Laringe |
| Chinese (中文) | 喉頭 |
| Korean (한국어) | 후두 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thanh quản |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Larinks |
| Portuguese (Português) | Laringe |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | กล่องเสียง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 喉頭 |
What it means
The larynx, commonly called the voice box, is a hollow, cartilage-lined structure in the front of your neck that connects the pharynx (throat) to the trachea (windpipe). It serves two vital functions: protecting your airway when you swallow by closing a flap called the epiglottis, and producing sound for speech. The vocal cords are housed inside the larynx. When air passes through the larynx, the vocal cords vibrate to create sound, which is then shaped into words by your tongue, lips, and teeth. Conditions affecting the larynx include laryngitis (inflammation), polyps, nodules, or cancer. Throat cancer often begins in the larynx. A laryngoscopy is an exam that lets doctors look directly at the larynx.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My doctor looked at my larynx with a camera and found a polyp on my vocal cords.
Mi doctor examinó mi laringe con una cámara y encontró un pólipo en mis cuerdas vocales.
I have had a hoarse voice for six weeks — could something be wrong with my larynx?
He tenido la voz ronca durante seis semanas — ¿podría haber algo mal en mi laringe?
After the surgery on my larynx, will I be able to speak normally again?
Después de la cirugía en mi laringe, ¿podré volver a hablar con normalidad?
Where you'll see it
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Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026