# thong vs tongs

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### thong
*noun · IPA /θɒŋ/ · frequency rank #23,701*
A narrow strip of material, typically leather, used to fasten, bind, or secure objects.

### tongs
*noun · IPA /tɒŋz/ · frequency rank #37,257*
An instrument or tool used for picking things up without touching them with the hands or fingers, consisting of two slats or grips hinged at the end or in the middle, and sometimes including a spring to open the grips.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thong-vs-tongs
