Hustenbonbon
masculine, neuter
The English phrase "cough drop" is translated into German as Hustenbonbon. Wiktionary also lists Halsbonbon and Eukalyptusbonbon.
Meaning: tablet to stop coughs (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hustenbonbon | masculine, neuter | |
| Halsbonbon | masculine, neuter | |
| Eukalyptusbonbon | /ɔʏ̯kaˈlʏptʊsbɔ̃ˌbɔ̃/ /ɔʏ̯kaˈlʏptʊsˌbɔmbɔŋ/ |
neuter |
What does it mean word for word?
The word Hustenbonbon is a compound noun consisting of Husten, meaning cough and Bonbon, meaning candy or sweet.
Which one should you use?
Hustenbonbon specifically refers to a candy for a cough. In contrast, Halsbonbon is a more general term used for a candy meant to soothe a sore throat. If you are in a pharmacy, you might also use the term Halstabletten to refer specifically to medicated throat lozenges.
How does it change in a sentence?
The nouns Hustenbonbon and Halsbonbon can be used as either masculine or neuter nouns. The word Eukalyptusbonbon is a neuter noun.
Did you know?
- While English speakers call these 'drops', using the German word Tropfen for a cough lozenge would cause confusion. A German speaker would assume you are asking for liquid medicine, such as a cough syrup.
- The word Bonbon is a French loanword that literally translates to 'good good'. It is used in German to describe almost any small, wrapped sweet.
- Because of the word Bonbon, many German brands avoid using this term on medicinal packaging. They prefer the more clinical-sounding term Pastillen to avoid the suggestion of a regular confection.
Examples in context
- Guten Tag, haben Sie Hustenbonbons?Good day, do you have cough drops?
- Entschuldigen Sie, können Sie mir bitte Hustenbonbons geben?Excuse me, can you please give me cough drops?
- Hey, hast du Hustenbonbons?Hey, do you have cough drops?
- Kannst du mir bitte Hustenbonbons geben?Can you please give me cough drops?
- Haben Sie Hustenbonbons?Do you have cough drops?
- Ich brauche ein Hustenbonbon.I need a cough drop.
- Hast du ein Hustenbonbon für mich?Do you have a cough drop for me?
- Dieses Hustenbonbon schmeckt sehr nach Minze.This cough drop tastes a lot like mint.
Example conversation
Laura is feeling unwell in the living room.
- LauraMein Hals tut weh, Julian.My throat hurts, Julian.
- JulianSoll ich dir ein Hustenbonbon bringen?Should I bring you a cough drop?
- LauraJa, das wäre sehr lieb.Yes, that would be very kind.
- JulianIch hole es sofort.I'll get it immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cough drop” translations and entries Eukalyptusbonbon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Eukalyptusbonbon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
