tang

/ˈtæŋ/

//ˈtæŋ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"tang" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tang” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #13,435 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#13,435
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A refreshingly sharp aroma or flavor.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

tang vs TN
0% similar
tang vs TG
0% similar
tang vs tax
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for tang
PropertyValue
Headwordtang
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtæŋ/
Letters4
Frequency rank#13,435
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tang” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). tang lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for tang is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtæŋ/. Corpus data places it at rank #13,435 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for tang, with forms such as "atng", "tagn", and "tangg". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "TN", "TG", "tax", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English tange, variant of tonge (“tongs, fang”), from Old Norse tangi (“pointed metal tool”), perhaps related to Old Norse tunga (“tongue”). But see also Middle Dutch tanger (“sharp, tart, pinching”). The correct English form is tang, spelled T-A-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    A refreshingly sharp aroma or flavor.
  2. 2
    A strong or offensive taste; especially, a taste of something extraneous to the thing itself.
  3. 3
    A sharp, specific flavor or tinge.
  4. 4
    A projecting part of an object by means of which it is secured to a handle, or to some other part.
  5. 5
    A projecting part of an object by means of which it is secured to a handle, or to some other part.
  6. 6
    A projecting part of an object by means of which it is secured to a handle, or to some other part.
  7. 7
    A projecting part of an object by means of which it is secured to a handle, or to some other part.
  8. 8
    A shuffleboard paddle.
  9. 9
    Obsolete form of tongue.
  10. 10
    Anything resembling a tongue in form or position, such as the tongue of a buckle.

Etymology

From Middle English tange, variant of tonge (“tongs, fang”), from Old Norse tangi (“pointed metal tool”), perhaps related to Old Norse tunga (“tongue”). But see also Middle Dutch tanger (“sharp, tart, pinching”).

This word in other languages

espiga(Español)queue(Français)Beigeschmack(Deutsch)espiga(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: atng,tagn,tangg,tanng,tnag,ttang

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of tang - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

atng2tagn2tangg1tanng1tnag2ttang1
Edit distance from "tang"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "tang"?
"tang" is spelled T-A-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtæŋ/.
What does "tang" mean?
As a noun, "tang" means: A refreshingly sharp aroma or flavor.
What words are commonly confused with "tang"?
"tang" is commonly confused with "TN", "TG", "tax". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "tang"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tang" is /ˈtæŋ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "tang"?
From Middle English tange, variant of tonge (“tongs, fang”), from Old Norse tangi (“pointed metal tool”), perhaps related to Old Norse tunga (“tongue”). But see also Middle Dutch tanger (“sharp, tart, pinching”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “tang”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is T-A-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtæŋ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “TN” - see the side-by-side comparison. tang vs TN
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list