This article will help you master pronounciation of English language tongue twisters. You can pick from Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced level tongue twisters. Tap/Click on the Practice button to test your pronunciation.
I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen.
Funny Tongue Twisters in English
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?
Targets /f/, /w/, and /z/ contrasts with a playful rhyme.
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?
A classic alliterative challenge that emphasizes /p/ sounds in quick succession.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Alliterative phrase focusing on /w/ and /tʃ/ sounds; a classic challenge for pace and clarity.
I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch.
Combines /w/ and /ʃ/ with “Irish wristwatch” for a rapid articulation drill.
Give papa a proper cup of coffee in a copper coffee cup.
Emphasizes /p/, /k/, and /f/ while controlling pacing and clarity.
Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread.
Emphasizes /fr/, /br/, /t/ sounds with a quick back-and-forth pattern.
Cooks cook cupcakes quickly.
Focus on the /k/ sound in initial and final positions.
Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep.
Packed with /s/ sounds and repeated short vowels; a fun, light-hearted twister.
Ed had edited it.
Very short but tricky alternating /d/ and /t/ in quick succession.
We surely shall see the sun shine soon.
Mixes /ʃ/ and /s/ repeatedly in a future-tense style phrase.
I saw Susie sitting in a shoeshine shop. Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits.
Tricky transitions of /s/ and /ʃ/ in “Susie,” “sitting,” “shoeshine,” and “sits.”
Chester cheetah chewed a chunk of cheap cheddar cheese.
Combines multiple /tʃ/ (“Chester,” “cheetah,” “chewed,” “chunk,” “cheddar,” “cheese”).
I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit.
Tests /sl/ and /ʃ/ combos at speed; watch for “slit” vs. “sheet.”Easy Tongue Twisters for Beginners
“R” (/r/) and “L” (/l/) Sounds
Red leather, yellow leather.
Great for practicing quick transitions between /r/ and /l/ in a short, repeated phrase.
Larry rarely relies on rails.
Helps with distinguishing /r/ from /l/ in both initial and medial word positions.
Really loud lions roar.
Reinforces clear /r/ sounds at the start and middle of words.
Roll a lemon along the road.
Focus on switching between /l/ and /r/ without blending them.
Laura loves lavender lilies.
Emphasizes multiple /l/ sounds in a row for tongue agility.
Rowdy rabbits relish red radishes.
Mixes initial /r/ in “rowdy,” “rabbits,” and “relish” with medial /r/ in “radishes.”
Little Robert ran round the lane.
Good for alternating /l/ and /r/ sounds quickly.
Loose ribbons loop lightly.
Trains a lighter /l/ sound in repeated words for clarity.
Rita’s locket rarely rattles.
Focuses on crisp /r/ and linking with /l/ in “locket” and “rattles.”
Lily wrote letters leaning right.
Encourages clear /l/ and /r/ transitions in connected speech.”TH” (/θ/, /ð/) Sounds
Three thin thieves thanked Theo.
Targets unvoiced /θ/ (“th” as in “thin”) repeatedly.
Thaw the thick thing thoroughly.
Combines “th” in various positions, reinforcing correct tongue placement.
Thirty thoughtful thinkers thought twice.
Perfect for practicing /θ/ in both word-initial and medial positions.
Thea threw three threads.
Balances /θ/ (“threw,” “three”) with /ð/ (“Thea”) if you pronounce “Thea” with a voiced “th.”
Thrifty Theo threw the thumbtack.
Helps sharpen the difference between /θ/ (“thrifty,” “thumbtack”) and /ð/ in “the.”
They think that Thursday is the thinnest day.
Good for alternating voiced /ð/ (“they,” “that,” “the”) and unvoiced /θ/ (“think,” “Thursday,” “thinnest”).
Thorny thistles thrive in the thicket.
Sustained /θ/ practice with initial “th” across multiple words.
Thoughtful Thornton thought of the theorem.
Challenges the tongue with repeated /θ/ and /ð/.
Theresa’s thirty theories thrive.
Rapid repetition of unvoiced /θ/ in “thirty,” “theories,” “thrive.”
Thirsty Theo thrived on thick shakes.
Focuses on unvoiced /θ/ in “thirsty,” “Theo,” “thick.”
I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you.
Reinforces repetitive /θ/ in “thought,” “thinking,” and “thanking,” testing clarity under speed.”S” (/s/) and “SH” (/ʃ/) Sounds
Sue sells shiny shells.
Contrasts /s/ (“sells”) with /ʃ/ (“shiny,” “shells”).
She sees the sun shining softly.
Combines /ʃ/ (“she,” “shining”) with /s/ (“sees,” “softly”).
Seven slippery snails slid slowly south.
Works on consecutive /s/ sounds for breath control and clarity.
Sasha shifts shape sometimes.
Quick shifts between /s/ and /ʃ/ (“Sasha,” “shifts,” “shape”).
Sarah’s shy sheep shiver slightly.
Reinforces /ʃ/ in “shy,” “sheep,” and /s/ in “slightly,” “Sarah’s.”
Sally’s socks shrink when she washes them.
Contrasts /s/ in “Sally’s,” “socks” with /ʃ/ in “shrink,” “she.”
Sam sips sweet soda slowly.
Focuses on /s/ in quick succession for clarity.
Shy Sheila saw seashells on the seashore.
Classic /ʃ/ practice in “Sheila,” “seashells,” “seashore.”
Silky sheets shine in sunlight.
Emphasizes /s/ at the beginnings of words with varying vowels.
Shy snakes slide softly.
Reinforces blending of /ʃ/ (“shy”) and /s/ (“snakes,” “slide”).Vowel Variations: “short a” (/æ/), “long e” (/iː/)
Eve eats each eerie eel easily.
Targets long “ee” /iː/ sounds repeatedly.
Aaron aims at ancient acorns again.
Practices the diphthong /eɪ/ (“aims,” “acorns,” “again”) and short /æ/ (“Aaron”).
Opal’s oval oboes obey openly.
Focuses on the long /oʊ/ sound (“Opal,” “oval,” “oboes,” “obey,” “openly”).
Ike’s ice icons ignite ideas.
Reinforces the diphthong /aɪ/ (“Ike,” “ice,” “ignite,” “ideas”).
Uma underestimates unusual umbrellas.
Practices the /ʌ/ (“underestimates,” “umbrellas”) and /uː/ (“Uma,” “unusual”).
Amy occasionally obtains ornate oranges.
Focuses on /eɪ/ (“Amy,” “occasionally”) and /ɔː/ (“oranges,” “ornate”).
Only older ogres own oily ores.
Reinforces the long /oʊ/ (“only,” “older,” “ogres,” “own”) and diphthong /ɔɪ/ in “oily.”
Eddie edited an edited edition.
Practices short /ɛ/ (“Eddie,” “edited,” “edition”).
Annie and Andy anxiously argue about apricots.
Mixes short /æ/ (“Annie,” “Andy”) with /eɪ/ (“apricots”) and /aʊ/ (“about”).
Eileen eagerly eats exotic Easter eggs.
Emphasizes /iː/ (“Eileen,” “eagerly,” “eats,” “Easter”) and short /ɛ/ (“eggs”).
Near an ear, a nearer ear, a nearly eerie ear.
Focuses on the “ear” vowel pattern with subtle shifts, testing precise enunciation.
I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late.
Emphasizes the /eɪ/ vowel in “date,” “eight,” “gate,” and “late,” while also practicing smooth pacing.Consonant Clusters: “sp” (/sp/), “spl” (/spl/), “str” (/str/)
Splashing splendid sprinkles spill swiftly.
Strengthens consonant cluster articulation (spl-, spr-, sp-).
Spring brings bright blossoms.
Good for /spr/ and /br/ clusters in quick succession.
A big black bug bit a big black bear.
Works on the /bl/ cluster and repeating initial consonants at speed.
Stringent strands stretch strongly.
Focuses on /str/ at the start of words.
Scribble scribes script swiftly.
Sharpens /skr/ (“scribble,” “scribes,” “script”).
Split the splintered splines smoothly.
Practices /spl/ and /splɪn/ clusters together.
Crunchy crackers crack cleanly.
Emphasizes /kr/ cluster at the beginning of words.
The strictest structure stood strong.
Targets /str/ in multiple words with different vowels.
Strips of stripes strike the stratosphere.
Reinforces /str/ + /st/ clusters quickly.
Splendidly spoken speech spreads swiftly.
Good for mouth agility with multiple /sp/ and /spl/ starts.
How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?
Focuses on /kl/ and /kr/ clusters, plus repeated /k/ sounds in rapid succession.Mixed Consonants: “p” (/p/) & “b” (/b/), “t” (/t/) & “d” (/d/)
A proper cup of coffee in a copper coffee pot.
Differentiates /p/ and /k/ sounds while managing repeated words.
Betty’s puppy patted Bobby’s baby.
Works on distinguishing /p/ and /b/ in rapid sequence.
Dave did the deed down at dawn.
Reinforces clear /d/ sounds in initial, medial, and final positions.
Pat placed the platter properly.
Focuses on initial /p/ and final /t/ articulation.
Tim ticked the tip-top timer.
Practices crisp /t/ in different word positions.
Deb’s dad dared Dan to dive deeply.
Targets /d/ across various words with short vowels.
Pippa picked purple pickles perfectly.
Sharpens /p/ clusters and repeated sounds in a row.
Tabby the tabby cat tapped Tommy.
Maintains clarity between /t/ and /b/ within short words.
Ben bought a bright blue balloon.
Distinguishes /b/ in both initial and clustered positions (“bright,” “blue”).
Ted’s tidy to-do list did the trick.
Alternates /t/ and /d/ quickly for enunciation control.Hard Tongue Twisters in English
Hard Sound Combinations: “s” (/s/), “sh” (/ʃ/), “ch” (/tʃ/), “r” (/r/), “l” (/l/), “th” (/θ/, /ð/)
Sheila’s rural library threw three truly rare thrills.
Interlaces /ʃ/ (“Sheila’s”), /r/ (“rural,” “rare”), and “th” (“threw,” “three”).
Freshly-fried flying fish swiftly swirl at the shore.
Mixes /fr/, /fl/, and /ʃ/ in a single sentence, emphasizing speed and clarity.
Larry and Rory rarely really row roughly.
Great for the /r/ in multiple positions and /l/ in “Larry.”
Susie’s sushi shop sells sashimi on Sunday.
Combines /s/ and /ʃ/ in alternating positions with quick timing.
Thirty thrifty thieves threw threads through the thick sheet.
Rapid “th” transitions, both voiced and unvoiced, plus consonant clusters.
A cheery cherry Charlie cherishes rarely rots.
Focus on /tʃ/ vs. /r/ and repeated “ch” sounds.
Trish’s short shriek shook Richard’s red shack.
/ʃ/ and /r/ in multiple word positions challenge tongue agility.
The rolling rock rattled along the rocky ridge.
Repeated /r/ and “ck” clusters test breath control.
Sasha sharply shouted, shaking the shabby shack.
Alternates /ʃ/ (“Sasha,” “sharply,” “shouted,” “shaking,” “shack”) with /ʃ/ + /æ/ vowels.
Robert roasts robust ribs with rosemary regularly.
Packed with /r/ in different syllables for advanced articulation.
If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose?
Challenges /tʃ/ (“chews,” “choose”) and /ʃ/ (“shoes”), contrasting final sounds (“choose,” “shoes”).Long Tongue Twisters
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
Iconic alliterative phrase for /p/ practice and rapid repetition.
Betty Botter bought some butter, But she said the butter’s bitter; If I put it in my batter, It will make my batter bitter.
Classic multi-line piece targeting /b/ and /t/ sounds, plus consistent rhythm.
She sells seashells by the seashore; The shells she sells are surely seashells. So if she sells seashells by the seashore, I’m sure she sells seashore shells.
Emphasizes /s/ and /ʃ/ with a repetitive, flowing pattern.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, If a woodchuck could chuck wood? He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, And chuck as much wood as a woodchuck would, If a woodchuck could chuck wood.
Advanced pace and stamina test with repeating /w/ and /tʃ/ sounds.
A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.
Rapid /sk/ and “st” clusters plus minimal vowel changes.
I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn’t the thought I thought I thought.
Brain twister for distinguishing past tense “thought” from “I thought I thought.”
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, Until our throats are raw, Then we whisper for whipped cream.
Vowel variation practice and pacing; also good for intonation.
If two witches were watching two watches, Which witch would watch which watch?
Contrasts /w/ and /tʃ/ in a question form to challenge clarity.
The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick. Try saying that six times quick!
Extremely tough /s/ and /ʃ/ combos; tests speed and precision.
Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches, And which wristwatches are not?
Great for /w/ and /r/ in “wristwatches,” plus the /tʃ/ in “which.”
Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.
Fast-paced practice with /l/, /θ/, and /w/ transitions.Speed-Based, Repeated Phrases
Perfect for quick articulation drills; try saying each phrase multiple times fast.
Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat.
Repeated rapid /t/ and /b/ sounds to improve tongue precision.
Unique New York, Unique New York.
Challenges smooth vowel transitions and the /n/ + /j/ in “New.”
Black background, brown background.
Focus on distinct /bl/ and /br/ starts and switching vowels.
Red Buick, blue Buick.
Alternates /r/ and /bl/ while shifting vowels quickly.
Truly rural, truly rural, truly rural.
Teases the /r/ sound repeatedly in close sequence.
Irish wristwatch, Irish wristwatch.
Tests /r/ and /w/ in a tight cluster; famously difficult at speed.
The crow flew over the river with a lump of raw liver.
Mixes /r/ in different positions and interesting vowel combos.
Peggy Babcock, Peggy Babcock.
Repeated /p/ and /b/ for rapid transitions in short words.
Greek grapes, Greek grapes, Greek grapes.
Emphasizes the /gr/ cluster and the /ks/ or /k/ in “Greek.”
Big blue blimp blinked briskly.
Piles on /bl/ and /br/ clusters for clarity at high speed.
You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York.
Expands the “Unique New York” challenge with repeated /n/ and /j/ transitions.
Wayne went to Wales to watch walruses.
Highlights repeated /w/ sounds and shifting vowels, useful for advanced pacing.
Six sticky skeletons. Six sticky skeletons. Six sticky skeletons.
Focuses on repeated /s/ and /st/ patterns for clear articulation at high speed.
Which witch is which? Which witch is which? Which witch is which?
Practices /w/ and /tʃ/ in a short, repeated question for clarity under speed.
Snap crackle pop. Snap crackle pop. Snap crackle pop.
Quick repetition drills /sn/, /kr/, and /p/ clusters in short bursts.Use Kippy AI language tutor to practice pronunciation and conversation. Kippy can help you master these challenging sounds with instant feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions
›
How to Interpret Pronunciation Feedback
- Accuracy: How closely the spoken words match the expected pronunciation. This includes correct sounds, stress, and articulation.
- Completeness: Whether all expected words or sounds were spoken. It checks if anything was skipped or omitted.
- Fluency: The smoothness and flow of speech - how naturally the person speaks without excessive pauses, hesitations, or repetitions.
- Prosody: The rhythm, intonation, and stress patterns in speech. It reflects how well the speaker uses natural pitch and emphasis.
›
How to Practice Tongue Twisters
- Start slowly and focus on accuracy rather than speed
- Practice daily for just a few minutes to see improvement
- Try to visualize the mouth movements for difficult sounds
- Don't worry about making mistakes – they're part of the learning process!
