Tongue Twisters

لحم الحمام حلال و لحم الحمار حرام – an Arabic tongue twister about pigeon and donkey. Meaning, why it’s tricky, history and tips.

شمس تمشي و شمس مشمسه – an Arabic sun tongue twister built on SH and M sounds. Full text, translation, why it’s hard, and tips.

Am zehnten zehnten um zehn Uhr zehn zogen zehn zahme Ziegen – the German Z-alliteration tongue twister. Full text, English translation, the German Z sound explained, and practice guide.

Die Katzen putzen sich und die Katzen kratzen sich – the German K-alliteration tongue twister about cats grooming and scratching. Full text, translation, and practice guide.

Wenn Schnecken erschrecken erschrecken Schnecken Schnecken – the German tongue twister about snails frightening snails. Full text, translation, why the -ecken rhyme is so confusing.

Der dicke Dachdecker deckt das dicke Dach – the famous German D-alliteration tongue twister about a fat roofer. Full text, English translation, and practice guide.

Streichholzschachtelchen – the German tongue twister that is just one word repeated three times. Full pronunciation guide, breakdown of the six-syllable compound, and practice tips.

Lily lit le livre dans le lit – a French tongue twister built on L sounds. Meaning, why it’s harder than it looks, history and tips.

Mon père est maire, mon frère est masseur – a French tongue twister built on nasal sounds. Meaning, why it’s tricky, history and tips.

Ein allergischer Algerier irrt allerdings allerlei altertumlichen Algerierinnen gegenuber – the German AL alliteration tongue twister. Full text, translation, and pronunciation guide.