Tri chi du, tri chi du, tri chi du
Tri chi du, tri chi du, tri chi du
Three black dogs, three black dogs, three black dogs
Why Is It Hard?
Welsh ch is a voiceless velar fricative – the same sound as Scottish loch or German Bach. It is made at the back of the throat and requires deliberate placement that English speakers rarely use. Repeating tri chi du three times forces this sound six times in rapid succession. The i vowel in both tri and chi keeps the mouth in a similar position, making the consonant transitions very tight.
History
Tri chi du is one of Wales’s most compact and widely known tongue twisters. Like English toy boat or Unique New York, its power comes from simplicity – three words, nine letters, nearly impossible to repeat quickly. It is often used as a first exercise in Welsh pronunciation classes precisely because it isolates the ch sound in a short, memorable phrase. Dogs (cŵn, or chi in some dialects) are a central part of Welsh farming culture.
Tips for Saying It
- Welsh ch: open the back of your throat and breathe out – like clearing your throat very gently.
- Tri (three): the r in Welsh is often slightly trilled – not silent as in English.
- Du (black): rhymes with English dee, not doo.
- Say it five times slowly before attempting three-peat speed.
More Welsh Tongue Twisters
- Welsh Tongue Twisters – full collection
- Tongue Twisters for Kids – great for young learners
- Hard Tongue Twisters – more challenges
Find hundreds more on alltonguetwisters.com.