Croaky describes a voice that sounds rough, hoarse, and scratchy, like a frog's croak. When you have a bad cold or sore throat, your voice might become croaky, making you sound raspy instead of clear. Teachers often get croaky voices after talking all day, and singers sometimes wake up with croaky voices if they pushed their voices too hard the night before.

A croaky voice has a gravelly quality, as if something's blocking the smooth flow of sound through your throat. You might notice your voice getting croakier as the day goes on if you've been cheering at a game or talking non-stop with friends.

Sometimes people put on a croaky voice on purpose to sound funny or spooky, like when imitating a witch or a very old person. But usually, having a croaky voice means your vocal cords are tired, dry, or irritated. Resting your voice and drinking water typically helps it return to normal.