US Medical Term · anatomy
Pharynx
Faringe
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Pharynx |
| Spanish (Español) | Faringe |
| Chinese (中文) | 咽喉 |
| Korean (한국어) | 인두 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hầu họng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Parinks |
| Portuguese (Português) | Faringe |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | คอหอย |
| Japanese (日本語) | 咽頭 |
What it means
The pharynx is the muscular tube at the back of your throat that connects your nose and mouth to your esophagus (food pipe) and larynx (voice box). It is about five inches long and is divided into three sections: the nasopharynx (behind the nose), oropharynx (behind the mouth), and hypopharynx (just above the larynx). When you swallow, the pharynx contracts to push food and liquids downward while closing off the airway to prevent choking. The pharynx also plays a role in speech and in hearing, as the Eustachian tube opens into the nasopharynx. Infections like pharyngitis (strep throat) and conditions like sleep apnea involve the pharynx.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The doctor swabbed the back of my pharynx to test for strep throat.
El doctor me tomó una muestra de la faringe para detectar faringitis estreptocócica.
I have trouble swallowing — my doctor said the problem might be in my pharynx.
Tengo dificultad para tragar — mi doctor dijo que el problema podría estar en la faringe.
Is sleep apnea caused by the pharynx collapsing during sleep?
¿La apnea del sueño es causada por el colapso de la faringe durante el sueño?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026