la lengua (órgano)

Definition & meaning

La lengua is a feminine Spanish noun with several meanings:

1. The tongue: the muscular organ in the mouth used for tasting, swallowing, and speaking.
2. A language: a system of words and grammar used by a community, as in “Spanish is a language.”
3. A tongue-shaped feature or extension: for example, a narrow stretch of land or a long flame. This sense often appears in descriptive phrases.

Grammar & Word origin

• Gender: feminine — la lengua
• Plural: las lenguas
• It comes from Latin lingua, meaning “tongue” or “language.”

Synonyms & antonyms

There is no single synonym that fits all meanings.

• For “language,” idioma ↗ is often interchangeable with lengua, especially when referring to a particular language. Lenguaje ↗ is broader: it can mean language or a system of communication, not only a spoken language.
• For “tongue,” órgano ↗ means “organ,” but is more general and does not specifically mean “tongue.”
• There is no direct antonym for lengua in these senses.

Common phrases & collocations

• lengua materna ↗ — mother tongue; first language.
• lengua extranjera ↗ — foreign language.
• sacar la lengua ↗ — to stick out one’s tongue.
• tener la lengua larga ↗ — to talk too much or reveal things that should be kept private.