Published March 2, 2024 • Updated September 2, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Avoir un chat dans la gorge meaning
Avoir un chat dans la gorge is a common French expression meaning “to have a frog in your throat” or “to have a hoarse, blocked voice.” Literally, it means “to have a cat in your throat.” French speakers use it when their voice sounds rough, weak, or difficult to produce, often because of a cold, dryness, or irritation.
Avoir un chat dans la gorge pronunciation
IPA pronunciation of avoir un chat dans la gorge is /a.vwaʁ œ̃ ʃa dɑ̃ la ɡɔʁʒ/, which sounds approximately like “ah-vwahr uh(n) shah dah(n) lah gorzh.”
Example sentences
Après sept leçons de français, le pauvre prof a un chat dans la gorge et ne peut plus parler.
After seven French lessons, the poor teacher has a frog in his throat and can no longer speak.
Après avoir fait un discours incohérent, Monsieur Politique avait un chat dans la gorge.
After having given an incoherent speech, Mr. Politician was hoarse.
Prends une pastille si tu as un chat dans la gorge !
Have a cough drop if you have a raspy voice!
Expression origin
he expression avoir un chat dans la gorge dates back to the 19th century. At that time, a maton referred to “a hairball which can obstruct orifices”. Over the years, the word became matou (tomcat), then chat (cat).
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Related French Words & Expressions
- avoir la voix enrouée — to have a hoarse voice
- être aphone — to lose your voice
- avoir mal à la gorge — to have a sore throat
- tousser — to cough
- se racler la gorge — to clear your throat
- avoir la gorge sèche — to have a dry throat
📚 Related lessons
👉 Il n’y a pas un chat (expression) »
👉 Il n’y pas de quoi fouetter un chat »
👉 Chat (cat) »
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