What this suffix does
-tongued describes how someone speaks: silver-tongued (persuasive, smooth-talking), sharp-tongued (says cutting things).
ESEN
Suffix · forms adjectives
-tongued
Describes how someone talks: silver-tongued (persuasive, eloquent) and sharp-tongued (cutting, harsh in speech).
In Spanish: de lengua / de palabrasIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
How it is formed
Adjective + tongued.
- silver + tonguedsilver-tongued (persuasive, eloquent)
- sharp + tonguedsharp-tongued (cutting, harsh in speech)
- loose + tonguedloose-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" = tongued, literal for speech. Picture the tongue as a blade: silver-TONGUED = a silver tongue, smooth and persuasive. sharp-TONGUED = a sharp tongue, cuts with what it says.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"sharp-tongued" describes a critic who is...
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
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