Tounge vs. Tongue — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 18, 2024
"Tounge" is an incorrect spelling; the right spelling is "tongue", referring to the muscular organ inside the mouth.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Tounge or Tongue
How to spell Tongue?
Tounge
Incorrect Spelling
Tongue
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
"Tongue" has the same structure as "sponge", where 'o' comes before 'u'.
Visualize the word as a seesaw, where 'o' is higher and comes first, then 'u'.
Think of the word "long"; both "long" and "tongue" have the 'o' before the 'u'.
Remember, "Your tongue can't go under ('ou') but over ('o' then 'u')."
"Tounge" might seem right but "tongue" is the tight choice.
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How Do You Spell Tongue Correctly?
Incorrect: Her tounge stuck to the frozen pole.
Correct: Her tongue stuck to the frozen pole.
Incorrect: The doctor asked him to stick out his tounge.
Correct: The doctor asked him to stick out his tongue.
Incorrect: She bit her tounge when she was eating.
Correct: She bit her tongue when she was eating.
Incorrect: The cat licked its tounge after eating.
Correct: The cat licked its tongue after eating.
Incorrect: He could not find the right words, as if his tounge was tied.
Correct: He could not find the right words, as if his tongue was tied.
Tongue Definitions
The fleshy, movable, muscular organ in the mouth used for tasting and speaking.
She burnt her tongue on the hot soup.
A specific way of speaking or expressing oneself.
Poetry is a different tongue of emotions.
A language.
He can speak five tongues fluently.
A long, narrow strip of land extending into a body of water.
The tongue of the beach was a popular spot for evening walks.
The protruding part of a shoe under the laces.
Ensure the tongue of your shoe fits comfortably.
The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical vertebrate. It manipulates food for mastication and swallowing as part of the digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste.
The fleshy muscular organ in the mouth of a mammal, used for tasting, licking, swallowing, and (in humans) articulating speech.
Used in reference to a person's style or manner of speaking
He was a redoubtable debater with a caustic tongue
A strip of leather or fabric under the laces in a shoe, attached only at the front end.
The free-swinging metal piece inside a bell which is made to strike the bell to produce the sound.
A long, low promontory of land.
A projecting strip on a wooden board fitting into a groove on another.
The vibrating reed of a musical instrument or organ pipe.
A jet of flame
A tongue of flame flashed from the gun
Sound (a note) distinctly on a wind instrument by interrupting the air flow with the tongue
Eugene has worked out the correct tonguing
Lick or caress with the tongue
The other horse tongued every part of the colt's mane
The fleshy, movable, muscular organ, attached in most vertebrates to the floor of the mouth, that is the principal organ of taste, an aid in chewing and swallowing, and, in humans, an important organ of speech.
An analogous organ or part in invertebrate animals, as in certain insects or mollusks.
The tongue of an animal, such as a cow, used as food.
A spoken language or dialect.
Speech; talk
If there is goodness in your heart, it will come to your tongue.
The act or power of speaking
She had no tongue to answer.
Tongues Speech or vocal sounds produced in a state of religious ecstasy.
Style or quality of utterance
Her sharp tongue.
The bark or baying of a hunting dog that sees game
The dog gave tongue when the fox came through the hedge.
The vibrating end of a reed in a wind instrument.
A flame.
The flap of material under the laces or buckles of a shoe.
A spit of land; a promontory.
A bell clapper.
The harnessing pole attached to the front axle of a horse-drawn vehicle.
A protruding strip along the edge of a board that fits into a matching groove on the edge of another board.
(Music) To separate or articulate (notes played on a brass or wind instrument) by shutting off the stream of air with the tongue.
To touch or lick with the tongue.
To provide (a board) with a tongue.
To join by means of a tongue and groove.
(Archaic) To scold.
(Music) To articulate notes on a brass or wind instrument.
To project
A spit of land tonguing into the bay.
The flexible muscular organ in the mouth that is used to move food around, for tasting and that is moved into various positions to modify the flow of air from the lungs in order to produce different sounds in speech.
This organ, as taken from animals used for food (especially cows).
Cold tongue with mustard
Any similar organ, such as the lingual ribbon, or odontophore, of a mollusk; the proboscis of a moth or butterfly; or the lingua of an insect.
(metonym) A language.
He was speaking in his native tongue.
(obsolete) Speakers of a language, collectively.
(obsolete) Voice the distinctive sound of a person's speech; accent distinctive manner of pronouncing a language.
Manner of speaking, often habitually.
(metonym) A person speaking in a specified manner (most often plural).
The power of articulate utterance; speech generally.
(obsolete) Discourse; fluency of speech or expression.
Discourse; fluency of speech or expression.
(obsolete) Honourable discourse; eulogy.
Glossolalia.
In a shoe, the flap of material that goes between the laces and the foot (so called because it resembles a tongue in the mouth).
Any large or long physical protrusion on an automotive or machine part or any other part that fits into a long groove on another part.
A projection, or slender appendage or fixture.
The tongue of a buckle, or of a balance
A long, narrow strip of land, projecting from the mainland into a sea or lake.
The pole of a vehicle; especially, the pole of an ox cart, to the end of which the oxen are yoked.
The clapper of a bell.
(figuratively) An individual point of flame from a fire.
A small sole (type of fish).
(nautical) A short piece of rope spliced into the upper part of standing backstays, etc.; also, the upper main piece of a mast composed of several pieces.
(music) A reed.
(geology) A division of formation; A layer or member of a formation that pinches out in one direction.
On a wind instrument, to articulate a note by starting the air with a tap of the tongue, as though by speaking a 'd' or 't' sound (alveolar plosive).
Playing wind instruments involves tonguing on the reed or mouthpiece.
To protrude in relatively long, narrow sections.
A soil horizon that tongues into clay
To talk; to prate.
To speak; to utter.
To chide; to scold.
An organ situated in the floor of the mouth of most vertebrates and connected with the hyoid arch.
To make his English sweet upon his tongue.
The power of articulate utterance; speech.
Parrots imitating human tongue.
Honorable discourse; eulogy.
She was born noble; let that title find her a private grave, but neither tongue nor honor.
A language; the whole sum of words used by a particular nation; as, the English tongue.
Whose tongue thou shalt not understand.
To speak all tongues.
Speech; words or declarations only; - opposed to thoughts or actions.
My little children, let us love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
A people having a distinct language.
A will gather all nations and tongues.
The lingual ribbon, or odontophore, of a mollusk.
Any small sole.
That which is considered as resembing an animal's tongue, in position or form.
A projection, or slender appendage or fixture; as, the tongue of a buckle, or of a balance.
A projection on the side, as of a board, which fits into a groove.
A point, or long, narrow strip of land, projecting from the mainland into a sea or a lake.
A short piece of rope spliced into the upper part of standing backstays, etc.; also. the upper main piece of a mast composed of several pieces.
To modulate or modify with the tongue, as notes, in playing the flute and some other wind instruments.
To join means of a tongue and grove; as, to tongue boards together.
To use the tongue in forming the notes, as in playing the flute and some other wind instruments.
A mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
A human written or spoken language used by a community; opposed to e.g. a computer language
Any long thin projection that is transient;
Tongues of flame licked at the walls
Rifles exploded quick knives of fire into the dark
A manner of speaking;
He spoke with a thick tongue
She has a glib tongue
A narrow strip of land that juts out into the sea
The tongue of certain animals used as meat
The flap of material under the laces of a shoe or boot
Metal striker that hangs inside a bell and makes a sound by hitting the side
Articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments
Lick or explore with the tongue
Tongue Meaning in a Sentence
When he tried to speak, his tongue felt heavy.
The giraffe's long tongue reached the top leaves of the tree.
The spicy food made her tongue burn.
Cats clean themselves with their tongue.
Ice cream melts quickly on your tongue.
A snake flicks its tongue to smell the air.
They teach their dog commands in two languages, but he responds better to the one he learned first, as if his tongue prefers it.
The doctor examined his tongue for signs of illness.
She could taste the sweetness on her tongue.
Her tongue was coated with sugar from the candy.
Her tongue felt like sandpaper after running in the heat.
The cat's tongue felt rough against her hand.
The hot soup scalded her tongue.
He bit his tongue to stop himself from laughing.
His tongue was so cold after the snow cone that he couldn’t speak.
After eating the lemon, her tongue puckered at the sourness.
She got a tongue piercing last weekend.
When she speaks French, her tongue twists around the different sounds.
He could roll his Rs perfectly, flicking his tongue rapidly.
The frog's tongue shot out to catch the fly.
His tongue was stained blue from the lollipop.
She could feel her tongue swelling after the allergic reaction.
The recipe left a bitter taste on his tongue.
The medicine left an awful taste on his tongue.
She stuck out her tongue at her brother in a playful gesture.
Tongue Idioms & Phrases
Slip of the tongue
An unintentional mistake in speaking, often revealing something not meant to be shared.
His comment about the surprise party was a slip of the tongue.
Bite your tongue
To stop yourself from saying something that might be inappropriate or hurtful.
I wanted to argue, but I had to bite my tongue during the meeting.
Have a silver tongue
To be able to speak in a way that is persuasive and eloquent.
The salesman had such a silver tongue that he could sell ice to Eskimos.
Tongue-tied
Unable to speak due to shyness or nervousness.
He wanted to ask her out, but every time he saw her, he got tongue-tied.
On the tip of my tongue
When you can almost remember something but can't quite recall it.
Her name is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't remember it.
Speak with a forked tongue
To say one thing and mean another or to lie.
Beware of his promises; he speaks with a forked tongue.
Hold one's tongue
To refrain from speaking.
I had to hold my tongue when he started criticizing my cooking.
Tongue of fire
Speaking passionately or fervently.
He spoke with a tongue of fire about his vision for the future.
Cat got your tongue?
A question asked when someone is unusually silent, as if they are unable or unwilling to talk.
You're so quiet today, cat got your tongue?
Tongue in cheek
Saying something sarcastically or jokingly, not meant to be taken seriously.
His comment about becoming president was said with tongue in cheek.
Loose tongue
A tendency to speak recklessly or too much.
Be careful what you say around him; he has a loose tongue.
With one's tongue hanging out
To show eagerness or anticipation.
He waited for the concert tickets with his tongue hanging out.
Tongue-twister
A phrase or sentence that is difficult to speak quickly or correctly because of alliteration or a sequence of nearly similar sounds.
She practiced the tongue-twister until she could say it fast without mistakes.
Tongue-lashing
A severe scolding.
The coach gave the team a tongue-lashing after their poor performance.
Tongue and groove
A method of fitting similar objects together, edge to edge, often used in woodworking.
The carpenter explained how the tongue and groove joint makes the floorboards fit perfectly.
Keep a civil tongue in your head
To speak in a polite manner.
Even in a heated argument, it's important to keep a civil tongue in your head.
Find one's tongue
To become able to speak after a period of silence.
After the initial shock, she found her tongue and explained what happened.
By tongue and not by pen
Communicated verbally and not in writing.
The agreement was made by tongue and not by pen.
Give tongue to
To express or voice out something.
She gave tongue to her frustration after the meeting.
Common Curiosities
Which vowel is used before Tongue?
"U" is the vowel used before "tongue."
What is the verb form of Tongue?
The verb form is "to tongue", which can mean to articulate or to use the tongue in a specific way, like when playing a wind instrument.
Why is it called Tongue?
The term "tongue" originates from the Old English "tunge" which means the organ of speech.
What is the pronunciation of Tongue?
It is pronounced as /tʌŋ/.
What is the singular form of Tongue?
The singular form is "tongue."
What is the plural form of Tongue?
The plural form is "tongues."
What is the root word of Tongue?
The root word is the Old English "tunge."
Which preposition is used with Tongue?
"Of" is commonly used with tongue, as in "tongue of a shoe" or "mother tongue."
Is Tongue a negative or positive word?
"Tongue" is neutral; it's neither negative nor positive.
Is the word Tongue is imperative?
No, "tongue" is not an imperative verb.
Is Tongue a countable noun?
Yes, it can be countable (e.g., the tongues of many animals).
How many syllables are in Tongue?
There is one syllable in "tongue."
Which conjunction is used with Tongue?
No specific conjunction is exclusively used with "tongue"; any could be used depending on the context.
Is Tongue an abstract noun?
Not primarily. "Tongue" refers to a physical organ, but when referring to a language, it can be considered abstract.
Is Tongue a collective noun?
No, "tongue" is not a collective noun.
What is another term for Tongue?
Another term for "tongue" can be "lingua" or "language" (in the context of spoken languages).
Which determiner is used with Tongue?
Any determiner can be used depending on the context, such as "my," "a," "the," etc.
Is the Tongue term a metaphor?
"Tongue" itself isn't a metaphor, but it can be used metaphorically, as in "the tongue of a bell."
Is the word “Tongue” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Tongue" can be either, depending on the sentence structure.
How do we divide Tongue into syllables?
"Tongue" is a single syllable and cannot be further divided.
What is the opposite of Tongue?
There isn't a direct opposite, but in terms of anatomy, one could contrast it with "roof of the mouth."
What is the second form of Tongue?
As a verb, the second form is "tongued."
How is Tongue used in a sentence?
"She burned her tongue on the hot coffee."
Is Tongue a noun or adjective?
"Tongue" is primarily a noun, though it can be used as an adjective in some contexts (e.g., "tongue-tie").
Is Tongue an adverb?
No, "tongue" is not an adverb.
Is Tongue a vowel or consonant?
"Tongue" is a word, not a single letter. Therefore, it's neither a vowel nor a consonant.
What part of speech is Tongue?
"Tongue" is primarily a noun.
What is the first form of Tongue?
As a verb, the first form is "tongue."
Which article is used with Tongue?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "tongue," depending on the context.
Is the word Tongue is Gerund?
No, "tongue" is not a gerund.
What is a stressed syllable in Tongue?
The entire word "tongue" is stressed as it's a single syllable.
What is the third form of Tongue?
As a verb, the third form is "tongued."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
