Schluck

Schluck is a German noun meaning a single act of swallowing or a small amount of liquid that has been swallowed, often expressed with phrases such as einen Schluck Wasser. It is commonly used to refer to taking a quick drink. The related verb schlucken denotes the action of swallowing. In everyday language Schluck may also appear as a surname.

In physiology and medicine, swallowing is a coordinated, multi-phase reflex that moves a bolus from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus. The process consists of oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal stages and is controlled by the nervous system, including brainstem circuits and several cranial nerves. The term Schluckreflex is used to describe the swallowing reflex. Dysphagia, or Schluckstörung, is a condition characterized by difficulties in swallowing and can have neurological, structural, or muscular causes. Common risk factors include stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, head and neck cancer, and aging.

Complications of impaired swallowing or improper swallowing include aspiration, where material enters the airway, increasing the risk of pneumonia. Management depends on the underlying cause and may involve speech and language therapy, dietary modifications, or medical or surgical interventions.

Other uses of the term are largely linguistic or occupational in nature, reflecting its basic meaning related to the act of swallowing. In general, Schluck remains a routine, everyday term in German, applicable to both casual speech and technical discussions of swallowing.