# tong vs tow

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### 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.

### tow
*verb · IPA /təʊ/ · frequency rank #10,950*
To pull something behind one, such as by using a line, chain, or tongue.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tong-vs-tow