World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariesen la punta de la lengua
Pronunciation / Transliteration: en la ˈpunta de la ˈleŋɡwa
"Tenía su nombre en la punta de la lengua."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
Almost remembered; felt as if about to be spoken, but momentarily unable to be recalled.
"Her name was right on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn't remember it in time."
- 1
The psychological phenomenon or feeling of knowing a word or concept while failing to retrieve it.
"Researchers often study the tip-of-the-tongue state to understand human memory retrieval mechanisms."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the idiomatic expression 'on the tip of my tongue', recorded in English since the late 17th century. It metaphorically describes a mental state where a word or name is known to the speaker but temporarily irretrievable from memory, likening the physical sensation of speech formation to the anatomical tongue.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Tip-of-the-tongue"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Tip-of-the-tongue" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
sur le bout de la langue
Transliteration: syʁ lə bu də la lɑ̃ɡ
"J'avais son nom sur le bout de la langue."
auf der Zunge liegen
Transliteration: aʊ̯f deːɐ̯ ˈtsʊŋə ˈliːɡn̩
"Sein Name lag mir auf der Zunge."
sulla punta della lingua
Transliteration: ˈsulla ˈpunta ˈdella ˈlinɡwa
"Avevo la risposta sulla punta della lingua."
en la punta de la lengua
Transliteration: en la ˈpunta de la ˈleŋɡwa
"Tenía su nombre en la punta de la lengua."
na ponta da língua
Transliteration: na ˈpõtɐ da ˈlĩɡwɐ
"A palavra estava na ponta da minha língua."
ज़ुबान पर होना
Transliteration: zubaan par hona
"उसका नाम मेरी ज़ुबान पर था।"
话到嘴边
Transliteration: huà dào zuǐ biān
"那个答案就在我嘴边，但我就是想不起来。"
입에 맴돌다
Transliteration: ibe maemdolda
"그 사람 이름이 입에 맴돌았지만 기억나지 않았다."
喉まで出かかっている
Transliteration: nodo made dekakatte iru
"彼の名前が喉まで出かかっていたのに思い出せなかった。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all Spanish termsNot relating to or connected with the sense of smell.
Containing no liquid, or relating to an instrument (such as a barometer) that measures atmospheric pressure by the flexing of the thin metallic lid of a sealed box containing a vacuum.
A social gathering held following religious services, traditionally on Friday evening or Saturday after Shabbat, featuring refreshments and socializing.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Tip-of-the-tongue"
Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.
Enhance Your Writing & Grammar Precision
Linguistic Origins & Word Stories
View all stories →How Are Palisade Cells Adapted for Photosynthesis (and Why Are They Called 'Palisade')?
Palisade mesophyll cells are column-shaped, densely packed with chloroplasts, and positioned near the leaf's upper surface to maximize light absorption for photosynthesis. Their name comes from the French word for a defensive fence of wooden stakes, referencing their tightly aligned, upright cellular structure.
What is a SLOT SWOT Analysis and How Do You Actually Do One?
A SLOT SWOT analysis is an expanded strategic planning framework that blends personal or organizational 'SLOT' (Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, Threats) metrics with traditional 'SWOT' dynamics. It provides a granular approach to evaluating internal capabilities against external market realities.