Tradition: Dutch Mythology
Alternative Names: Tongesnaier
Category: House dweller
The Myth
Tongesnaier is a frightening figure from the folklore of Zeeland, in the Netherlands. It is described as an ugly man who threatens to cut off the tongues of children who stick them out mockingly at other people.
The creature’s name is associated with the act of cutting out a tongue, reflecting the punishment it threatens to inflict. Its role was to discourage children from making faces or sticking out their tongues to ridicule others, turning disrespectful behaviour into something that could bring a terrifying consequence.
The available account provides no further details about Tongesnaier’s appearance, origins, or activities beyond this threat. It survives as a local figure used to frighten children into behaving respectfully.
Tongesnaier belongs to the tradition of frightening figures invoked to discourage disobedience and insolence. Through the threat of a brutal punishment, the story reinforces the expectation that children should not mock or deliberately provoke others.
Sources
Van der Veen, Abe. “Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten.” Abe de Verteller. https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/