# twang

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtwæŋ/ · frequency rank #49,684

## Definitions
1. The sharp, quick sound of a vibrating tight string, for example, of a bow or a musical instrument.
2. A particular sharp vibrating sound characteristic of electric guitars.
3. A trace of a regional or foreign accent in someone's voice.
4. The sound quality that appears in the human voice when the epilaryngeal tube is narrowed.
5. A sharp, pungent taste or flavor; sometimes, a disagreeable one specifically.
6. An annoying or stupid person; especially, a recalcitrant.

## Etymology
Onomatopoeic. Compare Middle English twengen (“to pinch, tweak”) (whence modern English twinge), from Old English twenġan (“to pinch, twinge”); Middle English twingen (“to afflict, torment, oppress”), from Old Norse þvinga (“to weigh down, oppress”); Old English twingan (“to force, press”).

## Easily confused with
- **twin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twang-vs-twin)
- **twat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twang-vs-twat)
- **twig** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twang-vs-twig)
- **twins** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twang-vs-twins)
- **tying** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twang-vs-tying)
- **twine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twang-vs-twine)
- **twink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twang-vs-twink)
- **tag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tag-vs-twang)
- **tan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tan-vs-twang)
- **TWA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twa-vs-twang)
- **than** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/than-vs-twang)
- **tank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tank-vs-twang)
- **tang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tang-vs-twang)
- **ting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ting-vs-twang)
- **tong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tong-vs-twang)
- **tung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tung-vs-twang)
- **Tran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tran-vs-twang)
- **tian** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tian-vs-twang)
- **Tana** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tana-vs-twang)
- **tuan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tuan-vs-twang)

## Common misspellings (8)
`tawng`, `ttwang`, `twagn`, `twangg`, `twanng`, `twnag`, `twwang`, `wtang`

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