Standard Lemma guide

tanto

adv · noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˈtɑntoʊ/
  • UK: /ˈtæntəʊ/
  • rhymes with (US) -ɑːntəʊ
  • rhymes with -æntəʊ
  • /ˈtɑntoʊ/ Japanese dagger
  • /ˈtɑntoʊ/ knife blade / style
  • /ˈtæntoʊ/ knife blade / style
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɑːntəʊ

1

adv

Meaning 1

So much; too much.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A traditional Japanese small sword or knife; often used as a secondary weapon to a katana.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: engineering, government, military, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, politics, tools, war, weaponry

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tanto knife

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian tanto.

Borrowed from Japanese 短刀 (tantō), from Middle Chinese 短刀 (twan^X taw, “dagger”).

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Japanese: 短刀 — traditional Japanese small sword
Real reading context

tanto in complete knowledge articles