Erre con erre cigarro is the most famous Spanish tongue twister for the trilled double-R. It has been used in Spanish classrooms across Spain and Latin America for generations to teach the difference between the single-tap R and the trilled RR. The verse is short but unforgiving: every line contains at least two trilled Rs in rapid succession, and the final word “ferrocarril” packs two trills inside a single word.
Full Text – Erre con Erre Cigarro
Erre con erre cigarro,
erre con erre barril.
Rapido corren los carros
cargados de azucar del ferrocarril.
English Translation
R with R cigar,
R with R barrel.
The carts loaded with sugar
run quickly on the railway.
The verse is not trying to tell a story so much as demonstrate the double-R sound. “Cigarro” (cigar), “barril” (barrel), and “ferrocarril” (railway) are chosen specifically because they contain the trilled double-R in different positions within the word.
The Two R Sounds in Spanish
Spanish has two distinct R sounds that are spelled differently and mean different things:
- Single R (r) – a quick single tap of the tongue tip against the ridge behind the upper teeth. Used in words like “pero” (but), “caro” (expensive), “para” (for).
- Double R (rr) – a trill where the tongue tip vibrates rapidly against the same ridge, producing a rolling sound. Used in words like “perro” (dog), “carro” (cart), “ferrocarril” (railway).
This distinction changes meaning in Spanish. “Pero” (but) and “perro” (dog) are different words distinguished only by the single versus double R. “Caro” (expensive) and “carro” (cart) are similarly different. Erre con erre cigarro forces the speaker to alternate between the trill and the tap throughout, making it a genuine test of Spanish pronunciation.
Why Is It So Hard?
The first line fires four trilled double-Rs in sequence: erre, erre, cigarro, erre, erre, barril. The tongue must trill, stop, trill again, stop, and then hit two more trills inside the next two words. For non-native speakers who do not have the trill in their first language, producing even one clean trill is an achievement. Producing six consecutive trills at speed is extremely difficult.
Then the second half of the verse introduces the single-tap R in “rapido,” “corren,” and “carros,” requiring the tongue to switch between trill and tap throughout. The final word “ferrocarril” contains both a double-R trill (ferro) and a single-R tap (carril) inside the same word.
Pronunciation Guide
- Erre – EH-rreh (trill on the initial double-R)
- cigarro – see-GAH-rroh (trill on the double-R before the O)
- barril – bah-RREEL (trill on the double-R before IL)
- corren – KOH-rehn (single tap, not a trill)
- carros – KAH-rrohs (trill on the double-R)
- ferrocarril – feh-RROH-kah-REEL (trill on rro, single tap on ril)
Tips for Mastering the Trilled R
- If the trill is completely new to you, start with a sustained “dddrrr” sound – press the tongue tip against the ridge and blow air through. The vibration you feel is the beginning of the trill.
- Practise “ferrocarril” alone 20 times before attempting the full verse. It is the hardest word in the twister and contains both R types.
- Clap the rhythm of the first line: ERRE-con-ERRE. Keeping both trills evenly spaced stops the tempo from rushing.
- Say “pero” and “perro” alternately, listening for the difference. Once you can hear and produce both, the verse will make more sense physically.
- Native Spanish speakers use this verse as a warm-up exercise. It is not just for learners – even fluent speakers make errors on it at speed.
History and Origin
“Erre con Erre Cigarro” has been used in Spanish elocution training for at least 150 years. The reference to “ferrocarril” (railway) suggests the verse was composed in the 19th century, when railways became widespread across the Spanish-speaking world. It appears in school textbooks, elocution manuals, and children’s anthologies across Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and the rest of Latin America. No single author is attributed. The verse is simply part of the oral and written tradition of Spanish language education.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full text of Erre con Erre Cigarro in Spanish?
Erre con erre cigarro, erre con erre barril. Rapido corren los carros cargados de azucar del ferrocarril.
What does Erre con Erre Cigarro mean in English?
It translates as: R with R cigar, R with R barrel. The carts loaded with sugar run quickly on the railway.
Why is Erre con Erre used in Spanish class?
It teaches the difference between the single-tap R and the trilled double-RR, which is a meaningful phonological distinction in Spanish. “Pero” (but) and “perro” (dog) are only different because of this contrast.
Is Erre con Erre Cigarro the hardest Spanish tongue twister?
It is the most widely used for teaching the trilled R. Tres Tristes Tigres is often cited as the hardest overall Spanish tongue twister, but Erre con Erre targets a specific sound that non-native speakers find very difficult.
Explore more Spanish tongue twisters or browse the full tongue twisters collection.
- Spanish Tongue Twisters – the complete trabalenguas collection
- Tres Tristes Tigres – three sad tigers classic
- Hard Tongue Twisters – the most challenging twisters in any language
- Tongue Twisters – full collection