An inhaler for powdered, particularly medicinal substances, is formed with a suction air duct that extends to a mouthpiece, a reservoir for the substance, and an at least linearly movable dosing chamber for separating a specific amount of the substance from the reservoir and placing the amount into a transfer position from where it is transferred to a suction air flow. In order to charge the dosing chamber by separating a specific amount of substance from the reservoir, the dosing chamber can be rotationally moved in a superimposed fashion while being arranged eccentric to a corresponding axis of rotation. A closure slide element closes off the dosing chamber in the transfer position. When suction is applied, the closure slide element moves relative to the dipping plunger into a dose-release position, whereupon the dose of the powdered substance is transferred to the suction air stream formed in the suction air duct.