# thing vs tong

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### thing
*noun · IPA /ˈθɪŋ/ · frequency rank #184*
That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.

### tong
*noun · IPA /tɒŋ/ · frequency rank #21,681*
An instrument or tool used for manipulating things in a fire without touching them with the hands.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-02.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thing-vs-tong