A sentence or sequence of words that presents difficulty in pronunciation is referred to as a “tongue twister” in English. Children take delight in tongue twisters and enjoy challenging their friends to pronounce them rapidly and repeatedly. For individuals learning English, tongue twisters offer an enjoyable method to refine the pronunciation of specific sounds, one or two at a time.
Begin by enunciating the tongue twister at a slow pace, then gradually increase your speed. Once you can fluently articulate a tongue twister, attempt to repeat it two or three times consecutively to take on a more substantial challenge.
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Tongue twisters in English
| Tongue twister | Sounds/words emphasized | Difficulty (for a native speaker) |
|---|---|---|
| How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? | wood & chuck (means: throw) | Easy |
| Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick? | p | Easy |
| Can you can a can as a canner can can a can? | can | Easy |
| Frivolously fanciful Fannie fried fresh fish furiously | f | Easy |
| To begin to toboggan first buy a toboggan, but don’t buy too big a toboggan. Too big a toboggan is too big a toboggan to buy to begin to toboggan. | b & t | Easy |
| She saw Sharif’s shoes on the sofa. But was she so sure those were Sharif’s shoes she saw? | s & sh | Easy |
| Give papa a cup of proper coffe in a copper coffe cup. | c & p | Medium |
| Black background, brown background | b | Medium |
| Seventy-seven benevolent elephants | l & v | Medium |
| The chic Sikh’s sixty-sixth sheep is sick | s & k | Medium |
| A loyal warrior will rarely worry why we rule. | l & r | Medium |
| A pessemistic pest exists amidst us. | s & st | Medium |
| Drew Dodd’s dad’s dog’s dead. | d | Medium |
| Which witch switched the Swiss wristwatches? | w, s & ch | Hard |
| She sells seashells by the seashore. | s & sh | Hard |
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I am Nilay, an experienced English Language Assessment Director at the International English Test, where I have been working full-time since February 2020. I specialize in helping people worldwide validate their English proficiency through comprehensive assessments and certifications.
Before joining the International English Test, I worked as a self-employed English Language Assessment Consultant from January 2015 to December 2019. During this time, I assisted companies and individuals in improving their language skills, helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.
I hold a degree in Engineering and have also studied at Shafston International College in Australia. My educational background has equipped me with the tools to make a meaningful impact in the field of English language learning. Additionally, I enjoy sharing my expertise through articles that explore effective teaching methods and language assessment strategies, contributing to the International English Test and the broader assessment community.
