An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zunge

by Friedrich Kluge

Zunge, f., ‘tongue, language,’ from MidHG. zunge, f., ‘tongue, tongue-shaped piece, language,’ OHG. zunga, f., ‘tongue, domain of a language.’ Comp. OSax. tunga, LG. tunge, Du. tonge, OFris. tunge, AS. tunge, E. tongue, OIc. and Swed. tunga, Dan. tunge, Goth. tuggô. In non-Teut. occurs the cognate Lat. lingua, which is usually supposed to come from *dingua (like lacrima for dacrima, see Zähre). Teut. tungôn, with Zange, is scarcely allied to the Sans. root danç, ‘to bite, be pointed’ (Zunge should be lit. ‘that which licks’); the relation to Sans. juhû, jihvâ, ‘tongue,’ is uncertain.