Tangas

Tangas is a term with several distinct meanings across languages and cultures. In Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese, tangas are a type of swimsuit bottom, typically a thong-style garment with minimal rear coverage. The term is used for beachwear and sometimes lingerie, and the level of coverage can vary by design.

In Filipino slang, tanga (singular) is a pejorative noun meaning a foolish or gullible person; the plural tangas refers to multiple people described in this way. This usage is informal and can be offensive, so it is typically encountered in colloquial speech rather than formal contexts.

In some Spanish-speaking regions, tanga or tangas can be used to refer to deceit, a trick, or a dishonest plan, though the exact sense and usage vary by country and are usually informal.

Etymology and regional variation differ among these senses. The garment sense derives from Portuguese terminology for a minimal-coverage bikini bottom, while slang senses arise from separate linguistic paths in different languages. Because meanings depend heavily on context, it is important to consider regional usage and audience when encountering the term.