Italian · Body & Health
"Tongue" in Italian: lingua
la lingua
Tongue in Italian is la lingua (lah LEEN-gwah), feminine. The same word also means language, so body talk often needs context: mi morde la lingua, la lingua gonfia.
Hot food
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How to pronounce lingua
Say it
lah LEEN-gwah
/ˈliŋ.gwa/
LEEN-gwah, stress on LEEN. Soft gu before a.
"Tongue" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la lingua | the tongue; language Body part or language. | Body part or language. |
| sulla lingua | on the tongue Taste and burns. | Taste and burns. |
| mordersi la lingua | to bite one's tongue Literal or figurative. | Literal or figurative. |
| lingua madre | mother tongue Language sense. | Language sense. |
How to use lingua in real life
- 1Hot food
Mi sono scottato la lingua con la minestra.
I burned my tongue on the soup.
La lingua body part.
- 2At the dentist
Tiri fuori la lingua, per favore.
Stick out your tongue, please.
La lingua.
- 3After spicy oil
Ho la lingua che brucia ancora.
My tongue is still burning.
Ho la lingua.
Mistakes English speakers make with lingua
Incorrect: Il lingua mi fa male.
Correct: La lingua mi fa male.
Lingua is feminine.
Incorrect: Ho tongue gonfia.
Correct: Ho la lingua gonfia.
Use lingua, not English tongue.
Good to know
Because lingua also means language, Italians rely on context. Doctors and cooks mean the body part; classrooms mean Italian as a lingua. Learners meet both meanings on day one.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After tasting a too-hot pepper
ChatPal
Ti brucia la lingua?
Is your tongue burning?
You
Sì. Ho la lingua in fiamme!
Yes. My tongue is on fire!
ChatPal
Bevi latte: aiuta la lingua più dell'acqua.
Drink milk: it helps the tongue more than water.
You
Ok. Se la lingua resta rossa, smetto col piccante.
Ok. If the tongue stays red, I'll quit the spicy stuff.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Tongue" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Tongue" in Italian
Does lingua only mean tongue?
No—it also means language.
Is it feminine?
Yes: la lingua.
How do I say I burned my tongue?
Mi sono scottato/a la lingua.
What is mother tongue?
Lingua madre / madrelingua.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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