Tongue Twisters
This page wouldn’t exist without professor Rachael-Anne Knight from the University of London, whose works inspired me to dig deeper into research and proved that phonetics can be easy and entertaining if one can only give it a chance.
Feel free to use the tongue twisters to practice any sound.
PLOSIVES
/p/ as in Paramore
1. 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?
2. Paula’s puppy played with a plump, pink piglet.
3. Patrick packed a picnic with peanut butter sandwiches.
4. The pretty parrot perched on the porch post
5. Precious Penny pranced in purple pants, painting pretty pictures with a paintbrush.
6. Pippin the Pug popped popcorn, placed it in a pink pail, and patiently waited for his playmate to come and partake.
7. Patrick’s parents planted a patch of plump pumpkins in their spacious backyard, but the playful possums promptly pillaged their produce
8. Polly primped and preened for the prom, picking out a pretty pink dress and a pair of peep-toe pumps
/b/ as in Bieber
1. 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 But a bit of better butter will make my batter better So ‘twas better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter
2. A big black bear sat on a big black rug
3. Black bug bit a big black bear. But where is the big black bear that the black bug bit?
4. Good blood, bad blood
5. Bobby Bippy bought a bat. Bobby Bippy bought a ball. With his bat Bob banged the ball, banged it bump against the wall, but so boldly Bobby banged it, that he burst his rubber ball.
6. Bumblebee bumblebee bumblebee!
7. Blake’s black bike’s back brake bracket block broke.
8. A big black bug bit a big black bear, made the big black bear bleed blood.
9. Babbling bumbling band of baboons
/t/ as in Tiktok
1. A tutor who tooted a flute tried to tutor two tooters to toot. Said the two to their tutor, “Is it harder to toot or to tutor two tooters to toot?»
2. Two tried and true tridents
3. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit
5. Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks
6. Tommy Tucker taught the tongue twister to his sister.
7. Terry took Tom’s toys away, but Tom took Terry’s toys today.
8. Timmy trims trees with his trimmer on Tuesdays.
9. Terry threw a tantrum when he tasted the tart tangerine.
10. Tina takes the train to town every Thursday.
11. Tommy tells tall tales to his timid turtle.
12. Todd takes two teaspoons of sugar in his tea.
/d/ as in Drake
1. Ed had edited it. (x3)
2. Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread
3. Don’t doubt the deep dedication of David to his duties.
4. Danny’s dog did a daring dance on the dusty driveway.
5. Dylan’s dad drove a dirty Dodge down the road.
6. Doug’s daring deed was to dive down a deep ditch.
7. Danny’s dad deals in Danish delicacies.
8. Dora the duck dove down into the dark depths.
9. Dexter’s delightful dog dug a deep hole in the dirt.
10. Diego the detective dug up a dubious clue.
11. Douglas the doctor diagnosed a dangerous disease.
12. Damien’s daring dive delighted the audience.
/k/ as in Cristina
1. How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?
2. Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?
3. Kindly kittens knitting mittens keep kangaroos cozy.
4. Carl caught Katy’s kite while she cooked in the kitchen.
5. Clumsy Clark climbed the clock quickly, but then came crashing down.
6. Keep the creepy crawly critters from the kitchen.
7. Curious kids like to collect candy and cookies in their pockets.
8. Kevin kept kicking the kettle in the kitchen.
9. Carol cooked a cake with a kilo of carrots.
10. Kim’s cousin came to visit from Kentucky.
11. Carla caught a cold while walking in the park.
12. Kelly kept the key to the cage in her pocket.
13. The consequences of the queen’s quickly-made quest-decisions are quite quintessential.
/g/ as in Gaga
1. Great green dragons gather grapes greedily.
2. Gigantic geckos gorge on graham crackers.
3. Gertie’s grey goats graze on green grass.
4. Gertie’s grey goats graze on green grass.
5. Greg got a great big goldfish in a glass globe.
6. Gary’s guitar gently glides and grooves.
7. Gigi the giggling girl gets gooey gum stuck in her hair.
8. Ginny’s gingerbread was getting gooey in the great glass jar.
9. Gavin the goose gathers gumdrops in his gullet.
10. Gladys the glamorous gymnast goes for the gold on the uneven bars.
11. Good goats gobble grapes greedily.
12. Greg’s great-grandma grew a gorgeous garden.
13. Gary’s golf game got great gradually
/ʔ/ as in liGHT
1. 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 But a bit of better butter will make my batter better So ‘twas better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter
2. Watering water is water
NASALS
/m/ as in Monster
1. Mandy makes many muffins on Mondays.
2. Many men munch melons.
3. Mandy made marinade in May.
4. Major Mickey’s malt makes me merry.
5. My mom’s marvellous modern manicure
6. Mervin Maclean’s mess marred my marmalade
7. Mrs. Murphy’s muffin mix made magnificent muffins in minutes.
8. Max made a mistake and mailed his math homework to the museum.
9. Mary’s merry melodies make me move my mouth and my mind to a magical world.
10. The mesmerising music made me move my hips and my mouth in a mesmerising manner.
/n/ as in Knife
1.Nine nimble noblemen nibbled on nuts and nodded.
2. Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely
3. Near an ear, a nearer ear, a nearly eerie ear
4. You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York
5. Naughty Nellie never knew a nicer nurse than Nellie’s neighbour Nellie.
6. Nick’s nephew never knew how to knit, but now he’s a knitting ninja.
7. Nelly’s new neighbours knew nothing about Nelly’s noisy parrot.
8. Nathan and Natasha never needed napkins for their noodles.
9. Ned’s niece Nancy never noticed the nasty gnats in the night.
10. Norma never knew the nickname of her noisy neighbour.
/ŋ/ as in liviNG
1. A young king‘s kangaroo kicked the king‘s kooky cake and kept the king‘s kitten from getting a kiss.
2. Mingling and jingling
3. Bing bong! The bells began to ring and ding dong, ding dong, they sang a song.
4. A young springbok sprang and sang a song as he sprang along.
5. The thing that tingles and jingles is a single silver cymbal.
6. Singing Sammy sung songs on sinking sand.
7. The long, languid lizard lounged on the ledge in the moonlight.
8. The king‘s singer sang a song in a sling while slinging a string.
9. The dangling ding-dong dangled from the dingy dinghy.
10. The gangly gangster walked gingerly over the gangplank.
FRICATIVES
/f/ as in PHillip
1. Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy, was he?
2. Freshly fried flying fish, freshly fried flesh.
3. Four fine fresh fish for you.
4. Fifteen flustered flamingos fled from the farm.
5. Fickle funny Freda fried fresh fish furiously.
6. Frank the farmer fixed his Ford flat.
7. Franny found five fluffy feathers for her fellow friends.
8. Four furious friends fought for the phone.
9. Friendly Frank flipped a flapjack.
10. Faith found a frisky feline by the fence.
11. Fast Freddy flew over five frightened flies.
12. Freddy the frog fancied a feast of French flies.
13. Four funny fellows fiercely fought for the flag.
14. Fanny fed Freddie fat-free figs.
/v/ as in Venus
1. Vanessa’s very vocal when she ventures into the valley.
2. Victor vowed to vanquish the violent vampire.
3. Vinnie the vet vetoed the vaccine for the vicious virus.
4. Venerable Vincent viewed the vines with vigor.
5. Vivian’s vivid velvet vest vexes her very much.
6. Veronica’s valuable vase vanished very mysteriously.
7. Valerie’s very vivid imagination is very valuable.
8. The vicious viper viciously bit Victor’s vocal cords.
9. Vera’s very vague vision vexes her.
10. Victor’s vicious vicuna vomited on the veranda.
11. Vivian the virtuoso violinist vibrated her violin vibrantly.
12. Vincent’s vintage Volvo vigorously vroomed down the road.
/θ/ as in THanks
1. The thing I thought I thought I ought to think I thought, but if I had thought I thought, I shouldn’t think I thought, I ought to think.
2. A thistle stuck a thousand thorns into the underside of the other thistle’s thumb.
3. Theophilus Thadeus Thistledown, the successful thistle-sifter, while sifting a sieve-full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb.
4. The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.
5. The teeth beneath the wreath is a fierce beast.
6. Thin sticks, thick bricks.
7. Three thousand thirsty throat thrashers thumped a thousand thistles through the underside of their thumbling hearts.
8. The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.
9. Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.
10. The deathly seething south seashore.
/ð/ as in THe
1. The seething sheaf of soothing syrup.
2. The father’s brother’s other brother is not the father’s brother.
3. The father of the father of the father of my father is not my father.
4. Hither – thither!
5. The feather of the other’s father is the father of the other feather.
6. The leather needle of the needle leather is neither of the needle nor of the leather.
7. Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.
8. The withered wreath was worth the wrath of the withering weather.
9. The weathered leather on the feather was tethered to the heather.
10. The southern seashore is where the seething sea ceases to seethe.
/ʃ/ as in SHake
1. She sells seashells by the seashore.
2. Sheena leads, Sheila needs.
3. She saw Sharif’s shoes on the sofa. But was she so sure those were Sharif’s shoes she saw?
4. Surely Sheila should swim! Who else should sway away from so sweet a sea?
5. Shy Shelly says she shall sew sheets.
6. Shake the sheets and shut the shutters, then shoo the sheep and shout, “No mutters!»
7. Sharon’s shop stocks short spotted socks.
8. She says she shall sew a sheet.
9. Shy Shelly shall seize several shallow shells.
10. The shivering shark with sharp shears sheared the sheet.
11. Six sharp smart sharks.
/ʒ/ as in viSion
1. The pleasure of leisure is measured in treasures.
2. The measure of leisure is the pleasure we treasure.
3. The treasure of pleasure is the measure of leisure.
4. The leisure we measure is the pleasure we treasure.
5. Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure!
6. The leisurely treasure we leisurely measure is our leisurely pleasure.
7. The leisurely pleasure we leisurely treasure is the leisurely treasure we leisurely measure.
8. Leisurely measures of leisurely treasure are the pleasure we leisurely treasure.
9. The beige besieged the leisurely treasure with its leisurely leisure.
10. Pleasure and leisure are a treasure to be measured at our leisure.
11. Leisurely pleasure is a leisurely treasure beyond measure.
/s/ as in Selena
1. Selfish-shellfish.
2. Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep. The seven silly sheep Silly Sally shooed shilly-shallied south.
3. Sam’s shop stocks short spotted socks.
4. Susie sells sea shells by the sea shore.
5. She sells seashells on the seashore. The shells she sells are seashells, I’m sure.
6. Six sick slick slim sycamore saplings.
7. Sarah saw a shot-silk sash shop full of shot-silk sashes as the sunshine shone on the side of the shot-silk sash shop.
8. Super Sassy Sally Sassafras sat in a sunflower field.
9. Some shun sunshine, do you shun sunshine?
10. Moses supposes his toeses are roses, but Moses supposes erroneously. For Moses, he knowses his toeses aren’t roses, as Moses supposes his toeses to be.
/z/ as in Zero
1. The zingy zebra zigzagged through the zoo with a zany zither.
2. Zachary’s zippers are zany and zippy.
3. The buzzing bees buzzed by the buzzing breeze.
4. Zippy Zeke’s zipper was zipped in a zigzag.
5. The amazing maze amazed the gazing ape.
6. Crazy lazy lizard lounged lazily in the lush grass.
7. The snoozy blue gnu chewed on a shoe in the zoo.
8. Sizzle and sputter, the sizzling sausages sat in the skillet.
9. Hazel the hazelnut hatched a huge hazy hazelnut.
10. Lazy lions lazed lazily in the lush grass.
11. The zesty zebra zoomed by with a zigzag zoom.
12. Zippy Zara’s zealous zeal for zany zippers was really amazing.
13. Zeroing in on zero, Zachary zealously zigzagged his zany zebra.
/h/ as in Hillary
1. Help Harry haul heavy hoses.
2. Harold the hiker hiked through the hills with his hat and his hiking boots.
3. Huge hairy hippos hopped happily in the hot, humid heat.
4. Happy hippos hop and hide in holes.
5. Hootie the owl hooted loudly on the hollow branch.
6. Harry had a huge herd of hairy hedgehogs.
7. Howl happily in the hazy hue of the hot, humid heat.
8. Hilda hung her hat on the hook with a hearty hum.
9. Hank’s honeyed ham is heavenly, hot, and healthy.
10. Helen’s house has high ceilings, hard floors, and a huge hall.
11. The horse’s hooves hit the hard, heavy ground.
12. Helping hands help hungry humans have hearty helpings.
APPROXIMANTS
/w/ as in William
1. 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
2. Wally walks westward with a wild walrus.
3. Wendy went to Wales with her wagon and her whale.
4. Wilbur, Wilbur, Wilbur!
5. Whistling Willie whittled a whistle with a whittling wheel.
6. Walter’s wallet was walloped by a wasp.
7. Warren went to Washington to watch the wild wolves.
8. Whitney whispered a wish for a whimsical wagon wheel.
9. Wayne whistled while waiting for his watermelon to grow.
/r/ as in Rihanna
1. Red Rover
2. Around the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran. Roger the robber was arrested by the royal guard.
3. Red-letter, yellow-letter.
4. Rachel reads a lot of books about rockets and robots.
5. Ruby the rabbit ran around the rocky ridge.
6. Ricky the racer rode his motorcycle on the rugged road.
7. Rebecca’s rubber boots were ripped and repaired by the river.
8. Rita’s recipe for roasted radishes was surprisingly delicious.
9. Robert and Richard are rivals in the race for the red ribbon.
10. Ralph the rooster crowed loudly at the crack of dawn.
11. Rachel’s rhubarb pie was the talk of the town.
/l/ as in Levi
1. Larry loved licking lollipops in the lovely little lane.
2. Lila the llama liked to lounge on the lawn with a large lemonade.
3. Lucy’s lucky little lizard leaped over the lazy ladybug.
4. Lenny the lion’s loud roar made the little lambs laugh.
5. Lenny’s loyal lapdog liked to lick his legs when he laughed.
6. Lola’s luscious lips loved to linger on lollipops.
7. Leo the lion’s long mane looked lovely in the light.
8. Lydia the lobster liked to lounge in her luxurious lagoon.
9. Lenny’s little sister Lulu liked to laugh and listen to music.
10. Lily the ladybug looked for love in all the wrong places.
/j/ as in Yoda
1. Yolanda yodeled yellow yarn while yanking on a yo-yo.
2. Yogi the yak yawned and yearned for yummy yams.
3. Yara the yoga instructor yells, “Yes, you can do it!»
4. Yuri the yachtman yawned and yanked on the yachting ropes.
5. Yellow jackets yapping in the yard yesterday yielded to yo-yos today.
6. The young yogi yelped with joy after mastering the yoga pose.
7. Yvette the yodeller yanked on the yellow yo-yo and yelled, «Yahoo!»
8. The yellow jacket yawned and said, “I’m feeling yucky today.»
9. The yapping puppy yearned for a yummy treat to chew on.
AFFRICATES
/dʒ/ as in Jolene
1. Gigi the giraffe jumps for joy in January.
2. Judy juggles juicy jujubes in July.
3. Danny’s dojo has dodgy dodgems for children to drive.
4. Georgie the giant loves to juggle jars of jelly.
5. Jim the jellyfish.
6. Jimmy the dog jumps over juicy jugs of juice.
7. Jimmy the dog jumps over juicy jugs of juice.
8. Reggie the ranger wrangles with a giant jellyfish.
9. Jackie jumps for joy when she sees the jelly-filled doughnuts.
10. The jolly janitor jiggles the giant jar of jam.
11. The judge judged the jester’s juggling as just jolly.
12. The jockey justifies his jarring jumps as justifiable.
13. Jessie enjoys jingling her jumbo-sized jewelry.
14. The jester jests in a jolly jingle jangle.
/tʃ/ as in CHeck
1. If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose?
2. Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?
3. Cheap sheep seats.
4. Chilly Chip’s cheap chicken chips.
5. Cheeky cherry chewy chews.
6. Cheeky chickens check each other’s cheeks.
7. Choose juicy cherries, chew them cheerfully.
8. Charlie’s cherry cheesecake is a cheerful choice.
9. Chester the chipmunk chases the cheese.
10. Cherry jam and cheese on toast, please.
11. Chubby chinchillas chew chocolate chips.
12. Cheddar cheese and cherry chutney sandwiches.
13. Chuck’s chickpea chili is a cheesy choice.
14. Chopsticks are a challenge for Charlie
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