TANG-guhl
/ˈtæŋɡəl/
tangle is pronounced TANG-guhl (/ˈtæŋɡəl/). Tangle is a verb or noun meaning to twist together into a confusing mass, or a situation that is difficult to resolve. It often implies interweaving strands or elements in a way that makes them hard to separate. In usage, it can describe physical entanglement or a figurative complication that resists straightforward solution.
Tangle is a verb or noun meaning to twist together into a confusing mass, or a situation that is difficult to resolve. It often implies interweaving strands or elements in a way that makes them hard to separate. In usage, it can describe physical entanglement or a figurative complication that resists straightforward solution.
- Common phonetic challenge: the /ŋ/ before /ɡ/ can be slurred, producing a run-together sound. Practice by isolating the two sounds: say /ŋ/ with the back of the tongue raised, then quickly release into /ɡ/ without inserting an extra vowel. - Another mistake: adding a pronounced /l/ sound too soon, yielding /ˈtæŋɡl̩/ or /ˈtæŋɡəl/ with a heavy L. Aim for a light, quick /-əl/ after /ɡ/. - Mind the vowel: some learners default to a broader /æ/ or mispronounce as “tan-gull.” Keep the vowel crisp and short /æ/ and let the /ŋ/ carry the syllable into /ɡ/.
"- The headphones became a tangle of cords after being stuffed into her bag."
"- A small misunderstanding could quickly tangle the team’s plans."
"- The fishing line snagged and tangled around the rocks."
Pronounce it as /ˈtæŋɡəl/ in US and UK English. The primary stress is on the first syllable: TAN-gəl. The /æ/ is a short near-open front vowel (as in cat), the /ŋ/ is a velar nasal like in “sing,” and the final /ɡəl/ has a light /g/ followed by a schwa and /l/. Tip: keep the tongue high in the back of the mouth for /ŋ/, and avoid over-expanding the vowel. See/audio reference in your preferred dictionary for audio examples.
Common errors include pronouncing the cluster as /tæŋɡl/ with an extra stop or a strong /l/ after /g/, or misplacing the /æ/ and making it sound like /teɪŋɡəl/. Correct approach: /ˈtæŋɡəl/ with a clear velar nasal /ŋ/ followed by a soft /ɡ/ and a light /əl/. Avoid turning the final into /tæŋɡlɪ/ or adding an unnecessary schwa before the /l/. Practice by saying TAN-gəl with the tongue finishing softly at the soft palate before the liquid /l/.
In US/UK, the initial vowel stays /æ/ as in “cat,” with rhoticity not affecting the /tæŋ/. The main difference is rhythm and fluency; US often has a more tongue-root relaxed /ɡəl/, UK may have crisper /ɡ/ and slightly tighter vowels in rapid speech. Australian tends to maintain /æ/ but with a slightly drawn-out vowel quality and a glottalization tendency on some speakers, though standard Pronouncing is /ˈtæŋɡəl/. Overall, the core /tæŋ/ and final /ɡəl/ are consistent, with minor vowel length and flapping differences in casual speech.
The difficulty lies in producing a clean /ŋ/ nasal before the /ɡ/ release and then transitioning to /əl/ without an extra vowel. Some speakers insert an extra schwa or misplace the tongue for /ŋ/, causing a lisp-like sound or an audible break. Focus on keeping the tongue high for /ŋ/, then smoothly release into /ɡ/ and a light /əl/. Practicing slow, then normal-paced sequences helps stabilize the transition.
A notable feature is the tight sequence /ŋɡ/ where the velar /g/ follows immediately after the velar nasal /ŋ/. This requires precise timing to avoid an over-pressed /g/ or an unintended extra vowel. Keeping the soft palate relaxed while transitioning from the nasal to the stop is key. Visualize lifting the back of the tongue to allow the /ŋ/ and then curling slightly to articulate /ɡ/ before unfolding into /əl/.
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- US: moderate rhoticity; keep /ɹ/ neutral if it appears in connected speech around the word; ensure /æ/ is lax, short, not drawn. - UK: crisper consonants, maintain short /æ/; softer /əl/, sometimes less vowel length than US. - AU: has vowel quality closer to US but with a slightly flatter intonation; keep the /æ/ as a short front vowel; practice with connected speech to avoid overt rhoticity. IPA guidance: /ˈtæŋɡəl/ across accents; observe subtle vowel timing and consonant release variations.
Tangle comes from Middle English tanglen or tanglen, likely from Old English tangian ‘to touch or handle’ in some dialectal uses, but the modern sense of twisting or knotting likely derives from the Proto-Germanic root *tang-, related to touching and knotting. The term evolved in the sense of “to twist together in a confused mass” during the late Old English to Middle English period, aligning with other knotting-related verbs. By the 16th century, tangle was common in both literal entanglement (rope, hair) and figurative senses (a tangle of affairs). The word’s semantic trajectory emphasizes complexity and obstruction, often used metaphorically to describe situations as well as physical tangles. First known written attestations appear in English texts around the 14th–16th centuries, with stable usage in domestic and nautical contexts where cords, ropes, and lines commonly became tangled. Today, tangle maintains a crisp, actionable sense of twisting elements into a confounding mass, frequently paired with verbs like “untangle” or “unravel.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "tangle" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "tangle"
-gle sounds
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