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Suffix · forms adjectives

-tongued

Describes how someone talks: silver-tongued (persuasive, eloquent) and sharp-tongued (cutting, harsh in speech).

In Spanish: de lengua / de palabrasLiterary

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated August 2026

What this suffix does

-tongued forms compound adjectives that describe the quality, style, or moral character of someone's speech — specifically the tongue as an instrument of persuasion, deception, or cruelty. Silver-tongued, sharp-tongued, forked-tongued, honey-tongued — each compound places the speaker's communication style on a spectrum from elegantly persuasive to deliberately deceitful. These are among the most poetic and classical compound elements in English, with roots in Renaissance literature and the Bible.

How it is formed

Adjective + tongued.

  • silver + tongued
    silver-tongued (persuasive, eloquent)
  • sharp + tongued
    sharp-tongued (cutting, harsh in speech)
  • loose + tongued
    loose-tongued (talking too freely)

This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.

How it is pronounced

-tongued

Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.

Examples

Base word
With -tongued
In a phrase
  • silversilver-tonguedThe silver-tongued salesman could sell anything.
  • sharpsharp-tonguedShe's sharp-tongued and doesn't hold back her opinions.
  • forkedforked-tonguedThey called the politician forked-tongued for breaking his promise.
  • honeyhoney-tonguedThe honey-tongued host made every guest feel special.
  • looseloose-tonguedDon't tell him any secrets, he's loose-tongued.

Common mistakes

silver-tongued = a compliment always
silver-tongued can be positive or negative depending on context

"Silver-tongued" can describe a genuinely eloquent and persuasive speaker (positive) or a smooth talker who uses persuasion to deceive (negative). In older literature it was often neutral or positive; in modern usage it frequently implies manipulation. Context and tone determine the charge. "A silver-tongued devil" is clearly negative; "a silver-tongued advocate" may be admiring.

forked-tongued = having a literal forked tongue like a snake
forked-tongued = speaking deceptively out of both sides of one's mouth

"Forked-tongued" is a metaphor derived from the image of a snake's forked tongue, which seems to speak in two directions at once. It describes someone who says contradictory things to different audiences, who lies while appearing to tell the truth, or who makes promises they have no intention of keeping. It is always negative.

A trick to remember it

-tongued compounds come from one of the oldest metaphorical traditions in English: the tongue as the seat of truth or deception, charm or cruelty. These are among the most powerful character descriptors in the language. Silver-tongued and honey-tongued describe the seductive power of speech; sharp-tongued and forked-tongued describe its power to wound or deceive. When you use these compounds in writing, you invoke centuries of rhetorical tradition.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Fill in: "The ___ lawyer convinced the jury with arguments that were more poetic than factual." (an eloquent and persuasive speaker, possibly manipulative)

Hint: Silver + tongued = whose speech flows smoothly and persuasively.

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

"The forked-tongued diplomat made different promises to each delegation." What does "forked-tongued" suggest?

Exercise 3 · Form the word

Fill in: "The ___ critic never gave a review without attaching sharp words that stung even the most successful writers." (whose words cut and wound)

Hint: Sharp + tongued = whose words are sharp like a blade.

Frequently asked questions

What does the suffix -tongued mean in English?

The suffix -tongued describes how someone talks: silver-tongued (persuasive, eloquent) and sharp-tongued (cutting, harsh in speech). In Spanish it usually maps to de lengua / de palabras.

Can you give an example of a word with -tongued?

"silver" becomes "silver-tongued". It is a typical example of the -tongued suffix.

Other useful suffixes

  • -edged

    Describes the kind of edge something has, literal or figurative: double-edged (cuts both ways) and sharp-edged (sharp, cutting).

  • -spoken

    Describes someone's tone or style of speaking: soft-spoken (speaking gently) and outspoken (speaking one's mind bluntly).

  • -witted

    Describes how quickly someone thinks: quick-witted (sharp, fast-thinking) versus dim-witted (slow, not very sharp).

Learn every English suffix

-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.

View all suffixes
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