# tung

/ˈtəŋ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tung
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

an old way of spelling the word 'tongue'. It refers to the part of your mouth you use for tasting and speaking.

For teachers: an archaic orthographic variant of 'tongue'. Refers to the muscular organ in the mouth used for tasting, swallowing, and articulating speech.

## Examples

- The old book used the spelling tung instead of tongue.
- In certain Middle English texts, the word for the organ of speech appears as tung.
- Scholars of historical linguistics often encounter the spelling tung when examining the evolution of English orthography before the standardisation of the seventeenth century.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He bit his tung." but "He bit his tongue." — Tung is an obsolete spelling; modern English always uses tongue.

## Usage notes

- Archaic spelling; not used in modern standard English except in historical or linguistic contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.