What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tongue
Example
English is my mother tongue. [tongue: noun]
Example
She has a sharp tongue and can be quite sarcastic. [tongue: metaphorical use as personality trait]
Example
He speaks with a thick Scottish tongue. [tongue: metaphorical use to describe accent]
dialect
Example
The Southern dialect of English is different from the Northern dialect. [dialect: noun]
Example
She speaks with a heavy New York dialect. [dialect: metaphorical use to describe accent]
Example
The dialect spoken by the indigenous tribe is dying out. [dialect: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tongue is less common than dialect in everyday language. Tongue is more formal and less versatile than dialect, which can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tongue and dialect?
Tongue is more formal than dialect. It is often used in academic or literary contexts, while dialect is more commonly used in everyday speech and informal writing.
