adj

tangy

TA-ngee

Tangy (adj) means having a sharp, zesty flavor. Example: “The salad dressing was tangy with lemon and vinegar.”

adj

Having a sharp, zesty flavor.

"The salad dressing was tangy with lemon and vinegar."

"She loves tangy candies that make her mouth pucker."

How to use tangy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHaving a sharp, zesty taste, often sour or citrusy.

Common pairings

tangy sauce tangy flavor

tangier comparative, tangiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “tangy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

The salad dressing was _____ with lemon and vinegar.

From tang ("sharp taste") + the adjective-forming suffix -y.

angy mangy

What does “tangy” mean?

The word “tangy” means having a sharp, zesty flavor. In plain terms, having a sharp, zesty taste, often sour or citrusy.

How do you pronounce “tangy”?

“Tangy” is pronounced TA-ngee (/ˈtæŋiː/ in IPA).

How do you use “tangy” in a sentence?

Here is “tangy” used in a sentence: “The salad dressing was tangy with lemon and vinegar.”

What part of speech is “tangy”?

“Tangy” is an adjective.