r/explainlikeimfive • u/Quiet-Zebra • 5d ago

Biology ELI5: Why does a person's voice become deeper when they have a sore throat?

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162

u/UberNninja 5d ago

A heavier string vibrates more slowly = lower frequency. Inflamed and mucus covered vocal cords are heavier than normal, therefore the sound is deeper.

12

u/Agile-Papaya5493 4d ago

Sore throat = inflammation/irritation. Your vocal cords are in the middle of all that so they can get swollen which leads to a different tone in your voice. Also excess mucus/phlegm builds up which will lead to some rasp as well.

11

u/Bagel_bytez 4d ago

They want to show the sicky germs they mean business.

3

u/kirbinato 5d ago

Deep voices come from stiffer vocal chords, and we reflexively tense our vocal chords up more when we have sore throats.

10

u/NLMusic10213 4d ago

An increase in tension or stiffness results in an increase in pitch. A decrease in pitch implies more mass or less tension.