Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, having a valve member which is axially displaceable in a guide bore of a valve body, has two guide areas with which it is displaceably guided in the guide bore, a first upper guide area being provided on the send of the valve member facing away from the combustion chamber and a second lower guide area being provided in an area of the valve member near the combustion chamber, a lower guide area separating an annular clearance which is formed between the valve member shaft and the wall of the guide bore and is connected to a high-pressure fuel inlet channel is separated from a lower pressure space opening onto the valve seat face when the fuel injector is closed, and opening this connection during the opening stroke movement of the valve member, and having a connecting throttle cross section between the annular clearance and the lower pressure space. This throttle cross section is designed as a throttlebore.