टांग in 30 Seconds
- Taang is the Hindi word for 'leg', a feminine noun used for humans, animals, and furniture.
- It is grammatically feminine, so use 'lambi taang' and 'taang toot gayi'.
- Common idioms include 'taang adana' (interfere) and 'taang kheenchna' (tease).
- While 'pair' is more polite, 'taang' is standard for physical descriptions and medical contexts.
The Hindi word टांग (Taang) primarily refers to the entire limb of a human or animal body used for standing and walking—the leg. In a biological and anatomical sense, it encompasses the area from the hip down to the ankle. While in English, 'leg' is a neutral term, in Hindi, टांग can sometimes carry a slightly more colloquial or even blunt tone compared to the more formal or neutral word पैर (Pair), which often refers to the foot but is frequently used for the whole leg as well. Understanding the distinction is crucial for A2 learners moving toward B1 fluency.
- Anatomical Scope
- Refers to the physical structure including the thigh (जांघ), knee (घुटना), and calf (पिंडली).
- Grammatical Gender
- It is a feminine noun. This means adjectives and verbs must agree: 'लंबी टांग' (long leg), 'टांग टूट गई' (leg broke).
- Pluralization
- The direct plural is टांगें (Taangen) and the oblique plural is टांगों (Taangon).
कुर्सी की एक टांग टूट गई है।
— One leg of the chair is broken.
Beyond biology, टांग is used for the supports of furniture, such as tables and chairs. In a metaphorical sense, it appears in dozens of idiomatic expressions related to interference, stability, and movement. For instance, 'standing on one's own legs' (अपने पैरों पर खड़ा होना) uses पैर, but 'pulling someone's leg' (टांग खींचना) specifically uses टांग. This nuance defines the word's versatility in daily Hindi conversation.
घोड़े की टांगें बहुत मजबूत होती हैं।
— A horse's legs are very strong.
मेरी दाहिनी टांग में दर्द है।
— There is pain in my right leg.
मेज की चार टांगें होती हैं।
— A table has four legs.
उसने अपनी टांग पर पट्टी बांधी।
— He tied a bandage on his leg.
Using टांग correctly requires attention to its feminine gender and its role in compound verbs. Because it is feminine, any accompanying adjective must end in 'ee' (ई) if it's a declinable adjective, and the verb must reflect the feminine singular or plural form. For example, 'My leg is long' translates to 'मेरी टांग लंबी है' (Meri taang lambi hai).
Common Verb Pairings
- टांग अड़ाना (Taang Adana): Literally 'to interpose a leg', but idiomatically 'to interfere' or 'to poke one's nose' into others' business.
- टांग खींचना (Taang Kheenchna): To pull someone's leg, meaning to tease or mock them, or sometimes to hinder their progress.
- टांग तोड़ना (Taang Todna): To break a leg. Note: In Hindi, this is usually literal and negative, unlike the English 'Break a leg' (good luck), which should be translated as 'शुभकामनाएं'.
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Singular: टांग हिल रही है (The leg is shaking). Plural: टांगें हिल रही हैं (The legs are shaking).
- Postpositional Usage
- When followed by 'में' (in), 'पर' (on), or 'से' (from), the plural 'टांगें' changes to 'टांगों'. Example: 'टांगों में दर्द' (Pain in the legs).
In physical descriptions, टांग is used to describe height or athletic build. A person with long legs is often called 'लंबी टांगों वाला'. In furniture manufacturing or carpentry, it is the standard term for the vertical supports. If a chair is wobbly, you might say 'इसकी एक टांग छोटी है' (One of its legs is short).
You will encounter टांग in several distinct environments, ranging from the mundane to the highly metaphorical. Its frequency in daily speech makes it an essential A2-level vocabulary word.
1. At the Doctor's Office (अस्पताल में)
If you have a sports injury or a fall, the doctor will ask: 'क्या आपकी टांग में चोट लगी है?' (Is your leg injured?). You might hear terms like 'टांग का एक्स-रे' (X-ray of the leg) or 'प्लास्टर' (plaster cast) in conjunction with this word.
2. Household Conversations
Parents often tell children: 'टांगें मत हिलाओ' (Don't shake your legs) while sitting at the dinner table. It's also used when discussing broken furniture or moving heavy objects.
3. Office and Social Politics
The idiom टांग अड़ाना is extremely common in office gossip. 'वह हर काम में अपनी टांग अड़ाता है' (He interferes in every task). Similarly, friends will say 'मेरी टांग मत खींचो' (Don't pull my leg/tease me) during lighthearted banter.
4. Sports Commentary
In cricket or football commentary, descriptions of a player's reach or a 'leg-before-wicket' (LBW) situation often involve the word टांग or the more technical पैर. However, casual fans will say 'गेंद टांग पर लगी' (The ball hit the leg).
Learners often struggle with the gender and the specific cultural weight of टांग. Here are the most frequent errors to avoid:
- Gender Mismatch: Many learners treat it as masculine because 'body parts' in some languages are masculine.
Wrong: मेरा टांग दर्द कर रहा है। (Mera taang...)
Right: मेरी टांग दर्द कर रही है। (Meri taang...) - Confusing Taang and Pair: While often interchangeable, पैर is safer for 'foot' and formal contexts. Using टांग to refer to a spiritual leader's feet (Charan) would be considered highly disrespectful.
- The 'Break a Leg' Mistake: Translating the English idiom 'Break a leg' literally as 'टांग तोड़ो' will result in you being seen as aggressive or wishing ill will. Use 'शुभकामनाएं' instead.
- Oblique Plural Neglect: Forgetting to change टांगें to टांगों before a postposition.
Wrong: टांगें पर चोट लगी।
Right: टांगों पर चोट लगी।
To enrich your vocabulary, compare टांग with these related terms:
- पैर (Pair)
- The most common word for 'foot' or 'leg'. It is masculine and more polite than टांग.
- पाँव (Paon)
- A poetic or slightly more traditional version of पैर, usually referring specifically to the feet.
- चरण (Charan)
- A highly formal, Sanskritized word for 'feet', used in religious contexts or when showing extreme respect (e.g., touching an elder's feet).
- जांघ (Jaangh)
- Specifically refers to the thigh. If the pain is above the knee, this is the more precise word.
- पिंडली (Pindli)
- Specifically refers to the calf muscle area of the leg.
How Formal Is It?
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Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Examples by Level
यह मेरी टांग है।
This is my leg.
Feminine singular subject.
हाथी की टांगें बड़ी हैं।
The elephant's legs are big.
Feminine plural 'टांगें' with plural verb 'हैं'.
मेरी टांग में दर्द है।
There is pain in my leg.
Use of 'में' (in) postposition.
कुत्ते की चार टांगें होती हैं।
A dog has four legs.
General fact using 'होती हैं'.
यह टांग लंबी है।
This leg is long.
Adjective 'लंबी' agrees with feminine 'टांग'.
उसकी टांग छोटी है।
His/Her leg is short.
Possessive 'उसकी' is feminine to match 'टांग'.
टांग हिलाओ।
Move (your) leg.
Imperative sentence.
एक टांग पर खड़े हो जाओ।
Stand on one leg.
Use of 'पर' (on).
मेज की एक टांग टूट गई है।
One leg of the table is broken.
Compound verb 'टूट गई' (feminine).
बच्चा अपनी टांगें हिला रहा है।
The child is shaking his legs.
Present continuous feminine plural.
क्या आपकी टांग ठीक है?
Is your leg okay?
Interrogative with 'आपकी' (feminine).
उसने अपनी टांग पर पट्टी बांधी।
He/She tied a bandage on his/her leg.
Past tense transitive.
घोड़े की टांगें बहुत तेज़ हैं।
The horse's legs are very fast.
Metaphorical use for speed.
मेरी दाईं टांग में खुजली हो रही है।
My right leg is itching.
'दाईं' (right) is the feminine form.
कुर्सी की टांगें लोहे की हैं।
The chair's legs are made of iron.
Possessive 'की' used twice.
वह अपनी टांगें पसार कर बैठा है।
He is sitting with his legs stretched out.
Idiomatic 'टांगें पसारना'.
मेरे काम में अपनी टांग मत अड़ाओ।
Don't interfere in my work.
Idiom: 'टांग अड़ाना' (to interfere).
सीढ़ियों से गिरते ही उसकी टांग टूट गई।
As soon as he fell from the stairs, his leg broke.
Adverbial clause 'गिरते ही'.
डॉक्टर ने मेरी टांगों का एक्स-रे किया।
The doctor took an X-ray of my legs.
Oblique plural 'टांगों'.
वह मज़ाक में मेरी टांग खींच रहा था।
He was pulling my leg in jest.
Idiom: 'टांग खींचना' (to tease).
चलते समय उसकी टांगों में कंपन हो रहा था।
While walking, there was a tremor in his legs.
Abstract noun 'कंपन'.
इस मकड़ी की आठ टांगें हैं।
This spider has eight legs.
Counting plural feminine nouns.
उसने अपनी टांग पर काला धागा बांधा है।
He has tied a black thread on his leg.
Cultural context (evil eye).
भारी बोझा उठाने से उसकी टांगें कांपने लगीं।
His legs started trembling from lifting the heavy load.
Inceptive verb 'कांपने लगीं'.
बिना सोचे-समझे दूसरों के मामलों में टांग अड़ाना गलत है।
It is wrong to interfere in others' matters without thinking.
Gerundial use of 'अड़ाना'.
सफलता की राह में कई लोग आपकी टांग खींचने की कोशिश करेंगे।
Many people will try to pull you down on the path to success.
Metaphorical use of 'टांग खींचना'.
उसकी टांग का घाव अब धीरे-धीरे भर रहा है।
The wound on his leg is now slowly healing.
Noun 'घाव' (wound).
खिलाड़ी की टांग की मांसपेशियों में खिंचाव आ गया है।
The athlete has a strain in his leg muscles.
Technical term 'मांसपेशियों' (muscles).
पुरानी मेज की टांगें दीमक ने खोखली कर दी थीं।
Termites had hollowed out the legs of the old table.
Past perfect tense.
वह अपनी टांगों के बल खड़ा होने की कोशिश कर रहा है।
He is trying to stand on his own legs (literally or figuratively).
Phrase 'के बल' (by strength of).
मैराथन के बाद मेरी टांगें बिल्कुल पत्थर जैसी हो गई थीं।
After the marathon, my legs had become just like stone.
Simile 'पत्थर जैसी'.
उसने अपनी टांगों को मोड़कर योगासन किया।
He performed a yoga pose by folding his legs.
Transitive verb 'मोड़कर'.
राजनीतिक गलियारों में एक-दूसरे की टांग खींचना आम बात है।
Pulling each other's legs (undermining) is common in political corridors.
High-level register 'राजनीतिक गलियारे'.
दुर्घटना इतनी भीषण थी कि उसकी टांग काटनी पड़ी।
The accident was so severe that his leg had to be amputated.
Obligation 'काटनी पड़ी'.
उसकी लंबी टांगों ने उसे दौड़ में बढ़त दिला दी।
His long legs gave him an advantage in the race.
Causative-like structure 'बढ़त दिला दी'.
लेखक ने समाज की लड़खड़ाती टांगों का वर्णन किया है।
The author has described the faltering legs (foundations) of society.
Metaphorical personification.
गठिया के कारण उसकी टांगों के जोड़ों में सूजन आ गई है।
Due to arthritis, there is swelling in the joints of his legs.
Medical context 'गठिया' (arthritis).
वह अपनी टांगों को सिकोड़कर एक कोने में दुबक गया।
He curled up his legs and hid in a corner.
Participle 'सिकोड़कर'.
पहलवान ने अपनी मजबूत टांगों से प्रतिद्वंद्वी को जकड़ लिया।
The wrestler gripped the opponent with his strong legs.
Action verb 'जकड़ लेना'.
इस सिद्धांत की टांगें बहुत कमजोर हैं, यह टिक नहीं पाएगा।
The foundations of this theory are very weak; it won't last.
Abstract metaphor for 'foundation'.
अस्तित्ववाद की चर्चा करते हुए उन्होंने मानव जीवन को एक 'कांच की टांग' पर टिका हुआ बताया।
While discussing existentialism, he described human life as resting on a 'leg of glass'.
Philosophical metaphor.
भ्रष्टाचार ने देश की विकास रूपी मेज की टांगें काट दी हैं।
Corruption has cut the legs of the 'table of development' of the country.
Complex compound metaphor.
उसकी टांगों की थिरकन ने मंच पर जादू बिखेर दिया।
The rhythm of her legs (dancing) spread magic on the stage.
Poetic noun 'थिरकन'.
वह अपनी टांगों के बोझ तले दबा जा रहा था, मानो वे लोहे की हों।
He was being crushed under the weight of his own legs, as if they were made of iron.
Subjunctive 'मानो... हों'.
बिना किसी आधार के तर्क देना, बिना टांगों के चलने के समान है।
Arguing without any basis is like walking without legs.
Simile 'के समान'.
उसकी टांगों की नसों का जाल उसकी कड़ी मेहनत की गवाही दे रहा था।
The network of veins in his legs bore witness to his hard work.
Literary personification 'गवाही देना'.
इतिहास की टांगों में बेड़ियाँ डालकर उसे रोका नहीं जा सकता।
History cannot be stopped by putting shackles on its legs.
Historical metaphor.
उसने अपनी टांगों के फासले को मापकर दुनिया को नापने का साहस किया।
He dared to measure the world by measuring the stride of his legs.
Epic/Heroic tone.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
टांग फैलाकर सोना (To sleep with legs spread out/carefree)
एक टांग पर खड़ा होना (To stand on one leg/be ready)
टांगों में दम होना (To have strength in legs)
टांगों के बीच (Between the legs)
टांग का फ्रैक्चर (Leg fracture)
टांग का घाव (Leg wound)
टांगों की मालिश (Leg massage)
टांगों का कांपना (Trembling of legs)
टांग ऊपर करना (To lift the leg)
टांग नीचे करना (To lower the leg)
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
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Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Standard term for animal legs.
Used for 'foundations' of an argument or theory.
Standard term for table/chair legs.
Avoid using it for elders' legs; use 'Pair' instead.
- Using masculine adjectives (Mera taang).
- Using 'Taang todna' as a positive wish.
- Forgetting the nasal 'n' sound.
- Using 'Taang' for 'foot' (use Pair/Paon instead).
- Not using the oblique 'Taangon' with postpositions.
Tips
Gender Alert
Always remember Taang is feminine. If you say 'Mera taang', people will understand but know you are a beginner. Say 'Meri taang'.
Furniture
Use Taang for any object with leg-like supports, including chairs, tables, and beds.
Politeness
When talking about your teacher's or parents' legs, use 'Pair'. 'Taang' can sound slightly disrespectful in that specific context.
Interference
Use 'Taang adana' when someone is annoying you by giving unwanted advice.
Retroflex T
The 'T' in Taang is retroflex (ट). Curl your tongue back to touch the roof of your mouth.
Nasalization
Don't forget the dot (bindu) over the 'aa' sound. It's टांग, not टाग.
Animal Legs
For animals, 'Taang' is the most natural word. 'Ghode ki chaar taangen' (A horse's four legs).
Pain
If you go to a doctor, say 'Meri taangon mein dard hai' if both legs hurt.
Teasing
If a friend is lying to you as a joke, say 'Meri taang mat kheencho!'.
Body Language
Avoid pointing at things with your 'Taang' (leg/foot); it is considered rude in India.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'TANGy' orange sitting on a 'TAANG' (leg).
Word Origin
Indo-Aryan
Cultural Context
In Kabaddi and Wrestling, 'Taang' techniques are central to the sport.
Never use 'Taang' when referring to an elder's legs in a respectful context.
Shaking one's legs (Taang hilana) while sitting is often considered a sign of bad luck or bringing poverty in some households.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"क्या आपकी टांग में अभी भी दर्द है?"
"इस मेज की टांग इतनी कमजोर क्यों है?"
"तुम हमेशा दूसरों के काम में टांग क्यों अड़ाते हो?"
"क्या आपने कभी अपनी टांग तुड़वाई है?"
"लंबी टांगों वाले लोग तेज़ दौड़ते हैं, है ना?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you injured your leg.
Write about a person who always 'pulls your leg'.
Imagine a chair with five legs; describe how it looks.
How do you feel when someone 'interferes' in your business?
Describe the physical sensations in your legs after a long walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsTaang is a feminine noun in Hindi. You must use feminine adjectives and verb forms with it, such as 'lambi taang' or 'taang toot gayi'.
While both can mean 'leg', 'Pair' is more common and polite, often referring to the foot. 'Taang' specifically refers to the whole leg and is used for furniture and in specific idioms.
No! In Hindi, 'Taang todna' literally means to break a leg and is usually a threat or a description of an accident. Use 'Shubhkaamnaayein' for 'Good luck'.
The idiom is 'Taang kheenchna' (टांग खींचना). It is used exactly like the English version to mean teasing someone.
The plural is 'Taangen' (टांगें). If you use a postposition like 'on' or 'in', it becomes 'Taangon' (टांगों).
Yes, 'Mej ki taang' is the standard way to say 'the leg of the table'.
It means to interfere or meddle in someone else's business. It's a very common informal idiom.
Yes, doctors use 'Taang' to refer to the limb, though they might use more specific terms like 'Jaangh' (thigh) or 'Asthi' (bone) for technical reports.
Culturally, in many parts of India, shaking one's legs while sitting is seen as a sign of restlessness, lack of discipline, or a bad omen regarding wealth.
Yes, 'Pair' or 'Paon' are generally considered more polite and neutral than 'Taang'.
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Summary
Taang (टांग) is a versatile feminine noun meaning 'leg'. Mastering its gender agreement and its role in popular idioms like 'interfering' or 'teasing' is essential for achieving natural-sounding Hindi at the A2-B1 levels and beyond.
- Taang is the Hindi word for 'leg', a feminine noun used for humans, animals, and furniture.
- It is grammatically feminine, so use 'lambi taang' and 'taang toot gayi'.
- Common idioms include 'taang adana' (interfere) and 'taang kheenchna' (tease).
- While 'pair' is more polite, 'taang' is standard for physical descriptions and medical contexts.
Gender Alert
Always remember Taang is feminine. If you say 'Mera taang', people will understand but know you are a beginner. Say 'Meri taang'.
Furniture
Use Taang for any object with leg-like supports, including chairs, tables, and beds.
Politeness
When talking about your teacher's or parents' legs, use 'Pair'. 'Taang' can sound slightly disrespectful in that specific context.
Interference
Use 'Taang adana' when someone is annoying you by giving unwanted advice.
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आजकल
A2At the present time, in contrast with the past.
आँखें
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आखिर में
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आलमारी
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आराम करना
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आत्मनिर्भर होना
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आठवां
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आधी रात
A2Midnight.
आवश्यक होना
B2To be necessary, essential, or required.
