Tounge vs. Tongue: The Correct Spellings

The debate between "tounge" and "tongue" is a common one, with "tongue" being the correct spelling and "tounge" being an error. The difference lies simply in the order of letters. "Tongue" is spelled T-O-N-G-U-E. The mistake of "tounge" likely arises from the pronunciation, which can mislead people into believing that the "u" comes before the "g".

The term "tongue" originates from Old English "tunge," which has Germanic roots. Over time, the spelling evolved into the current form we use today. The word can also morph into other forms, such as "tongued" (as in "sharp-tongued") and "tongue-tie."

For those struggling with the spelling, one trick to remember is to think of the phrase: "The U and E sandwich the G in the middle."

Incorrect: He stuck out his tounge in concentration.

Correct: He stuck out his tongue in concentration.

Incorrect: She bit her tounge while eating her lunch.

Correct: She bit her tongue while eating her lunch.

Incorrect: The doctor asked her to say "ah" and show her tounge.

Correct: The doctor asked her to say "ah" and show her tongue.

Incorrect: The recipe called for beef tounge, a delicacy in many cultures.

Correct: The recipe called for beef tongue, a delicacy in many cultures.

Incorrect: She could feel the burn on her tounge after eating spicy food.

Correct: She could feel the burn on her tongue after eating spicy food.

A person's style or manner of speaking.

A long, narrow strip of land projecting into a body of water.

The fleshy muscular organ in the mouth used for tasting and swallowing.

The vibrating end of a reed instrument.

A specific dialect or language.

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

The act or power of speaking

tongues Speech or vocal sounds produced in a state of religious ecstasy.

Style or quality of utterance

The bark or baying of a hunting dog that sees game

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 give (someone) a French-kiss.

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

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).

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.

(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.

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).

(slang) To manipulate with the tongue, as in kissing or oral sex.

To protrude in relatively long, narrow sections.

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.

The power of articulate utterance; speech.

Honorable discourse; eulogy.

A language; the whole sum of words used by a particular nation; as, the English tongue.

Speech; words or declarations only; - opposed to thoughts or actions.

A people having a distinct language.

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;

a manner of speaking;

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

He rolled the berry around on his tongue to savor the flavor.

The cat licked its paw with its tongue before washing its face.

She could taste the sweetness of the ice cream on her tongue.

He touched the frozen pole with his tongue, and it stuck.

The snake flicked its tongue out to sense its surroundings.

She had a talent for tying knots in cherry stems with her tongue.

The dog's tongue hung out as it panted happily after the run.

She could feel her tongue tingling after eating the fizzy candy.

She spoke in a foreign tongue, captivating everyone with her fluency.

The doctor examined his tongue to check for signs of infection.

The frostbite affected his fingers and toes, but thankfully not his tongue.

He bit his tongue to keep from laughing at the wrong moment.

The poem was written in an ancient tongue, difficult for modern readers to understand.

The sour lemon made her tongue pucker up immediately.

She painted a picture of a lion with its tongue lapping up water.

Her tongue felt heavy and awkward as she tried to pronounce the new words.

The hot coffee scalded her tongue because she drank it too quickly.

The piercing on her tongue sparkled when she spoke.

The spicy pepper set his tongue on fire, making him reach for water.

The baby stuck out her tongue when she didn't like the food.

The bitter taste lingered on her tongue long after she finished the medicine.

He found it difficult to speak with a swollen tongue.

The chef seasoned the beef tongue perfectly, making it tender and flavorful.

The speech therapist helped him with his tongue placement for certain sounds.

The taste of mint on his tongue was refreshing after the meal.

Saying something humorous or ironic, not meant to be taken seriously.

To stop oneself from speaking to avoid saying something inappropriate or harmful.

A minor mistake in speaking, often embarrassing or revealing.

To speak in a severe or critical manner.

To refrain from speaking.

To overcome shyness or silence and begin to speak.

Unable to speak due to shyness or nervousness.

Symbolically representing the Holy Spirit's presence and power in Christian theology.

A method of fitting similar objects together, edge to edge, used mainly with wood, in flooring, parquetry, paneling, etc.

One's native language or first language learned at home.

To become more talkative, often because of alcohol or relaxation.

A severe scolding or verbal reprimand.

A question asked when someone is unusually quiet or reluctant to speak.

When one is on the verge of recalling a word or answer but cannot quite remember it.

Describing a method of joining where a projection on one piece fits into a groove on another.

To endure a painful or difficult situation without complaining.

A phrase or sentence designed to be difficult to say, especially rapidly or repeatedly.

The pronunciation of "tongue" can be misleading, causing some to believe the "u" comes before the "g."

Yes, other forms of the word include "tongued" (e.g., sharp-tongued) and "tongue-tie."

The word "tongue" comes from Old English "tunge," which has Germanic roots.

Remember the phrase: "The U and E sandwich the G in the middle."

"Sharp-tongued" describes someone who speaks in a critical or harsh manner.

The correct spelling is "tongue."

Yes, in relation to reed instruments, "tongue" refers to the vibrating end.

No, "tounge" is not an accepted spelling of "tongue."

Yes, "tongue" can refer to a specific language or dialect, as in "mother tongue."

Yes, it can refer to a long, narrow strip of land projecting into a body of water.