ohr

Ohr is the German noun for ear, the organ of hearing in humans and many mammals. In everyday language it can refer to the external part of the ear as well as to the internal structures that enable hearing. Anatomically, the outer ear consists of the auricle (Ohrmuschel) and the external auditory canal; the middle ear contains the eardrum (Trommelfell) and the auditory ossicles; the inner ear houses the cochlea (Schnecke) and the vestibular apparatus responsible for balance.

In German, the word forms the basis of many compound nouns related to hearing and ear care. Examples include Ohrmuschel (the outer ear), Ohrenweh or Ohrenenschmerz (earache), Ohrenarzt (ear doctor), Ohrenentzündung (ear infection), and Ohrenstöpsel (earplugs). These compounds are widely used in medical, everyday, and consumer contexts.

The term also appears in cultural and linguistic usage. The word Ohrwurm, literally “ear worm,” refers to a tune that becomes stuck in a person’s mind. The noun is employed in various idioms and expressions connected to listening, attention, and perception.

Beyond language, Ohr can occur in toponyms and surnames within German-speaking areas, though these uses are separate from the anatomical term. Overall, Ohr functions as a foundational word in German for both the biological organ and a broad family of related terms.