Wangen

Wangen is the plural form of Wange, a German noun meaning cheek. In anatomy, Wangen refer to the two rounded, flesh-covered areas on the sides of the face between the temples and the jawline. The term is common in medical terminology as well as everyday language, with compounds such as Wangenknochen (cheekbones) and Wangenmuskulatur (the muscles of the cheek).

The word derives from Old High German wanga and is part of the Germanic heritage that produced words for the parts of the body on the face. Its use as a basic body-part term is widespread in standard German and influences related dialects.

Geography and toponymy are another context in which Wangen appears. Wangen im Allgäu is a town in the Ravensburg district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located in the Allgäu region. It is known for its historic town center and local regional culture. The name Wangen is a common toponym in German-speaking areas, and several places in Switzerland and other parts of the German-speaking world bear or have borne the element Wangen in their names.

As a surname, Wangen occurs in German-speaking communities and can be found among individuals and families today. The surname likely originates from a toponymic root, indicating a geographical association with a place named Wangen.

In sum, Wangen primarily denotes the pair of cheeks in German but also serves as a geographic name in multiple German-speaking regions, and occasionally as a family name.