US Medical Term · anatomy
Tongue
Lengua
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Tongue |
| Spanish (Español) | Lengua |
| Chinese (中文) | 舌頭 |
| Korean (한국어) | 혀 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Lưỡi |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Dila |
| Portuguese (Português) | Língua |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ลิ้น |
| Japanese (日本語) | 舌 |
What it means
The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth that plays essential roles in tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking. It is covered with thousands of tiny bumps called papillae, which contain taste buds that sense sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and savory (umami) flavors. The tongue moves food around while chewing and pushes it to the back of the throat during swallowing. It also shapes sounds into words by pressing against the teeth and roof of the mouth. The tongue is supplied by several nerves, including the facial nerve for taste and the hypoglossal nerve for movement. Conditions affecting the tongue include oral thrush (fungal infection), ulcers, and rarely, tongue cancer.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have a painful sore on the side of my tongue that has not healed in three weeks.
Tengo una llaga dolorosa en el lado de la lengua que no ha sanado en tres semanas.
My tongue has been numb since the dental procedure — is that normal?
Mi lengua ha estado entumecida desde el procedimiento dental — ¿es normal?
The doctor noticed white patches on my tongue and wants to do a biopsy.
El doctor notó manchas blancas en mi lengua y quiere hacer una biopsia.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026