“In Ulm und um Ulm und um Ulm herum” is one of the most famous and most quoted German tongue twisters. Despite being only seven words long, it is a reliable speech challenge that has been used in German schools, radio broadcasting, and drama warm-ups for generations. The entire tongue twister is about the real city of Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, Germany – famous for its medieval cathedral with the world’s tallest church spire.
The Tongue Twister – Full Text
In Ulm und um Ulm und um Ulm herum.
English Translation
“In Ulm and around Ulm and all around Ulm.”
Extended Version
In Ulm, um Ulm, und um Ulm herum.
Rund um Ulm und um Ulm und um Ulm herum.
The extended version adds “rund” (all around) and repeats the pattern a second time. This version is harder because “rund um” adds a new two-word phrase that sounds like part of the original pattern but disrupts the rhythm you have established.
Why It’s Hard
The word “Ulm” ends in -LM, which is an uncommon consonant cluster in English. After saying “Ulm” multiple times in quick succession, the -LM ending bleeds into the start of the next word. “Und” (and) becomes part of the previous word, and “um” (around) loses its U at the start. By the fourth or fifth “Ulm,” most speakers have produced something like “In-Ulm-und-um-Ulm-um-Ulmrum” – all the right sounds but in the wrong arrangement.
The prepositions “in,” “und,” and “um” are all very short (one syllable) and all start with vowels or semi-vowels, which means there is no strong consonant to mark the start of each new word. At speed, the boundaries between words vanish and the tongue twister becomes one continuous sound.
About the City of Ulm
Ulm is a city of about 130,000 people in southern Germany at the junction of the Danube and Blau rivers. Its most famous landmark is the Ulm Minster (Ulmer Münster), which at 161.5 meters is the tallest church in the world. The city is also the birthplace of Albert Einstein. The use of Ulm in this tongue twister is sometimes attributed to the fact that the name “Ulm” is short, ends in a consonant cluster, and sounds unusual enough to be challenging when repeated – making it perfect for a minimalist tongue twister.
How to Practice
- Say “Ulm” alone 10 times clearly – feel the -LM ending close completely before you start the next repetition.
- Try “um Ulm” then “um Ulm herum” as mini-phrases before the full sentence.
- Pay attention to the word boundary between “Ulm” and “und” – make sure “und” starts fresh.
- The full sentence: “In Ulm und um Ulm und um Ulm herum.” Try at half speed first.
- Five repetitions in a row without pausing is the standard challenge.
Difficulty Rating
Medium. Short sentence, simple vocabulary, but the -LM cluster makes “Ulm” unexpectedly hard to repeat cleanly. One of the best entry-level German tongue twisters because you can see the result immediately and the grammar is simple. Suitable for ages 8 and above.
More tongue twisters: All German Tongue Twisters | French | Dutch | All Tongue Twisters