/tʌŋz/
tongues is pronounced /tʌŋz/. Tongues is the plural form of tongue, referring to the muscular fleshy organ in the mouth used for tasting, swallowing, and speech, and, figuratively, languages or dialects. In other contexts, it denotes a branch of humans or animals, such as the tongues of flames or regions of language. The word can also imply speech or language in cultural or religious senses. The plural form is typically used when speaking of more than one tongue or multiple kinds of language or tongues in a metaphorical sense.
Say it backTongues is the plural form of tongue, referring to the muscular fleshy organ in the mouth used for tasting, swallowing, and speech, and, figuratively, languages or dialects. In other contexts, it denotes a branch of humans or animals, such as the tongues of flames or regions of language. The word can also imply speech or language in cultural or religious senses. The plural form is typically used when speaking of more than one tongue or multiple kinds of language or tongues in a metaphorical sense.
"The patient burned his tongue on hot soup and needed relief."
"The diplomats spoke in many tongues, translating for every delegation."
"Ceremonial tongues of flame licked the torch as the ritual began."
Pronounce as /ˈtʌŋz/. The first syllable carries primary stress: TUNZ. The consonant sequence is /t/ + /ʌ/ + /ŋ/ + /z/. Tip: keep the tongue blade raised toward the alveolar ridge for the /n/ transition, then release into a clear /z/. For US/UK/AU, the vowel is lax /ʌ/, and the final /z/ is voiced. You can practice with a short phrase: “tongues-tip.”
Common errors: (1) Substituting /t/ with a dental or alveolar stop that’s too soft, (2) pronouncing /ŋ/ too forward or as a nasal /n/, (3) voicing the final /z/ inconsistently in connected speech. Correction: position the tip of the tongue behind the upper teeth for /t/, ensure the velum allows /ŋ/ by keeping the back of the tongue raised, then release into a precise /z/ with the vocal cords vibrating. Pace the transition slowly in isolation before speeding up.
US/UK/AU share /ˈtʌŋz/ with final /z/, but rhoticity and vowel quality influence surrounding sounds. US tends to a quicker /t/ release and a slightly darker /ʌ/. UK often shows a shorter /ʊ/ quality in some speakers and more precise alveolar contact, while AU can have a broader diphthongal realization in surrounding vowels. In all, the nucleus remains /ʌ/, but timing and the aspiration of /t/ and the softness of /n/ can vary. IPA remains /ˈtʌŋz/ across standard norms.
Two main challenges: (1) the nasal-voiced cluster /ŋz/ requires a swift transition from a velar nasal to a voiced alveolar fricative, which can blur in fluent speech; (2) the /t/ release preceding /ʌ/ needs precise tongue-tip positioning so the /t/ isn’t too light or too aspirated. Practice with a slower tempo and then blend into fast speech while maintaining a clear /z/. Mastery depends on steady tongue elevation and accurate alveolar contact.
The plural form changes the final consonant from the singular /ŋ/ with no ending to a final voiced /z/ in /ˈtʌŋz/. It's a straightforward plural pattern, but the onset /t/ and the rhyme /ʌŋz/ demand crisp articulation to avoid conflating with nearby sounds like /tɒŋ/ or /tʌŋ/ without the final /z/. The stress remains on the first syllable, but in linked speech you may hear the /z/ lightly assimilate when followed by a consonant.
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US: rhotic, flatter /ɚ/ in some surrounding vowels; emphasize a clear /z/ at the end. UK: non-rhotic tendencies, finer tongue tip contact for /t/, more precise alvéolar contact; AU: sometimes broader vowel qualities around /ʌ/ and a slightly longer /ŋ/. IPA: /ˈtʌŋz/. Vowel: keep /ʌ/ centralized and relaxed; Consonants: /t/ alveolar plosive, /ŋ/ velar nasal, /z/ voiced alveolar fricative. Key tips: keep the tongue blade high for /ŋ/ without letting the /t/ air escape as an aspirated puff; finish with a crisp, audible /z/.
Tongue comes from Old English tunge, related to Old Norse tunga and Dutch tong. The term traces to Proto-Germanic *tungō, with Indo-European cognates in many languages referencing the tongue or language. The literal sense of the organ emerged early in Old English as tunge, with the figurative sense of language or speech expanding in early medieval usage as humans began to distinguish spoken forms as ‘tongues’ in various texts. In religious and mythological traditions, ‘tongues’ has been used to describe the speaking of tongues in glossolalia. Over centuries, the plural form tongues came to denote multiple languages or dialects, or multiple physical tongues, depending on context. By the modern era, tongues remains both concrete (anatomical) and abstract (languages), with idioms like “speaking in tongues” capturing the religious sense. The word’s evolution reflects the fusion of anatomy and language into a symbolic concept that communicates both physical capability and cultural diversity. First known use as a literal organ is well-attested in Old English texts; figurative senses grew robustly in medieval and early modern prose, aligning with broader linguistic discourse and cross-cultural exchange.
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Words that rhyme with "tongues"
-uns sounds
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