Tongue twisters are a fun and effective way to improve your English pronunciation. They help you practice tricky sounds, rhythm, and intonation—all while having fun! Even native speakers use them to train their speaking skills.
In this post, we’ve collected 20 great tongue twisters, ranging from short and easy to long and challenging. Try saying them aloud and see how fast you can go!
1. Red lorry, yellow lorry.
Great for practicing the tricky “R” and “L” sounds.
2. She sees cheese.
Focuses on the difference between “S” and “SH.”
3. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
Sounds like “ice cream” when spoken fast—fun and confusing!
4. Big black bug bit a big black bear.
A classic “B” sound challenge.
5. Toy boat.
Try repeating it quickly—surprisingly hard!
6. Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.
A cute and popular tongue twister among kids.
7. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
One of the most famous tongue twisters in English.
8. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A fast-paced phrase full of “P” sounds.
9. Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.
A smooth sequence of “S” sounds.
10. Black background, brown background.
Great for contrastive pronunciation practice.
11. Green glass globes glow greenly.
A glowing example of “G” sound repetition.
12. Which witch is which?
Perfect for distinguishing “which” and “witch.”
13. Betty Botter bought some butter.
Helps train vowel variation.
14. Unique New York.
A short one—but hard to say quickly!
15. Crisp crusts crackle and crunch.
A crunchy tongue twister packed with “C” sounds.
16. I saw Susie sitting in a shoeshine shop.
Lots of “S” and “SH” combinations.
17. Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread.
A fun one for testing your focus.
18. Seashells she sells are surely seashells.
Another classic involving “S” and “SH.”
19. Eleven benevolent elephants.
Try this for some alliteration with “E” sounds.
20. Pad kid poured curd pulled cold.
One of the hardest English tongue twisters ever!
Tips for Practicing Tongue Twisters
- Start slowly – pronounce each word clearly, then speed up gradually.
- Record yourself – listen to your own pronunciation and improve.
- Use rhythm – say them like a chant or song to make them easier to remember.
Final Thoughts: Speak Clearly and Confidently!
Tongue twisters are a fun and effective tool for improving your English. Just a few minutes of daily practice can help build smoother speech and clearer pronunciation. Pick a few of your favorites and turn your English learning into a playful challenge!
