# tanto

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɑntoʊ/ · frequency rank #47,369

## Definitions
1. A traditional Japanese small sword or knife; often used as a secondary weapon to a katana.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 短刀(たんとう) (tantō), from Middle Chinese 短刀 (twan^X taw, “dagger”).

## Easily confused with
- **tao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tao)
- **tat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tat)
- **TNT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tnt)
- **tent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tent)
- **tate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tate)
- **tart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tart)
- **tata** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tata)
- **tito** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tito)
- **tint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tint)
- **taro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-taro)
- **taut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-taut)
- **taste** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-taste)
- **tenth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tenth)
- **tasty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tasty)
- **tents** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tents)
- **Tanya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tanya)
- **tarts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tarts)
- **taunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-taunt)
- **tonto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tonto)
- **tints** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanto-vs-tints)

## Common misspellings (7)
`atnto`, `tannto`, `tanot`, `tantto`, `tatno`, `tnato`, `ttanto`

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