Abstract: The present invention is a detachable tongue for a shoe. The shoe has an upper covering, disposed on a sole, which defines an instep opening and an ankle opening communicating therewith. The instep opening has a fore end and an aft end. The detachable tongue is an elongated strip of material having fore and aft ends which is disposed in the instep opening. The shoe with the detachable tongue includes means for removably fastening the strip to the upper covering at the instep opening. The fastening means includes fasteners such as a fabric fastener defining a hook and loop fastening system, one or more buttons, a snap system, a hook and eye system, a zipper, and a string system. In one embodiment the detachable tongue is removably disposed on the upper covering of the shoe at the fore end of the instep opening such that the fastener is hidden from view.