Tam-tam or tom-tom?
tam-tam is a noun meaning “A flat gong (without knob) that is struck with a felt-covered hammer”; tom-tom is a noun meaning “A small drum, often one of a joined pair, beaten with the hands, frequently…”.
What is the difference between tam-tam and tom-tom?
| tam-tam | tom-tom | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun, verb | noun, verb |
| Meaning | A flat gong (without knob) that is struck with a felt-covered hammer | A small drum, often one of a joined pair, beaten with the hands, frequently associated with tribal cultures Any cylindrical drum, with no snare; part of a drum kit To play the tom-toms |
| Example | none recorded | none recorded |
| Forms | tam-tams | tom-toms |
| Pronunciation | not recorded | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | not counted (the list counts single words) |
Sources: tam-tam and tom-tom in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of tam-tam and tom-tom
tam-tam
- 1
A flat gong (without knob) that is struck with a felt-covered hammer
- 2
datedTo beat on a drum
tom-tom
- 1
A small drum, often one of a joined pair, beaten with the hands, frequently associated with tribal cultures
- 2
To play the tom-toms
- 3
Any cylindrical drum, with no snare; part of a drum kit
- 4
Alternative form of tam-tam (“a kind of flat gong”)
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.