German word

Zunge

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsʊŋə/

Meaning

  • feminine nountongue

Example

Er streckt die Zunge heraus.

He sticks out his tongue.

Illustration for Zunge (tongue)

More examples

Ich habe mir beim Essen die Zunge verbrannt.

I burned my tongue while eating.

Core concept

A flexible muscle in the mouth that senses taste, shapes speech, helps swallowing, and can stand for a language.

Common phrases

  • auf der Zunge liegen

    be on the tip of ___'s tongue

  • die Zunge herausstrecken

    stick out one's tongue

  • sich auf die Zunge beißen

    bite one's tongue

Similar words

Zungenspitze: The tongue's frontmost part, important for touching and making certain sounds.
Lippen: The soft borders of the mouth that help form words during speech.
Aussprache: The manner and accuracy of producing speech sounds.
Zungenbrecher: A playful phrase designed to challenge quick, accurate pronunciation.

Definition in German

Ein muskuläres Organ im Mund, bedeckt mit Geschmacksknospen, das Geschmack wahrnimmt und beim Sprechen sowie Schlucken hilft.

Word origin

German Zunge comes through Old High German zunga from Proto-Germanic *tungōn and is cognate with English tongue.

Usage tips

  • Zunge is feminine, so the noun uses die in the singular and has the plural form Zungen.

Other meanings

  • languagenoun

Related words

  • Zungenbrechertongue twisternoun
  • Zungenspitzetip of the tonguenoun
  • ZungenkussFrench kissnoun

Word lists with this word