Tongue twisters are used a lot in Japan for fun and for practicing enunciation.
Did you know that these tongue twisters actually exist in English, too?
In English, tongue twisters are called “tongue twisters.”
Tongue twisters are very useful when learning English pronunciation, and they can even help you practice sounds that Japanese speakers often find difficult!
In this article, we’ll introduce English tongue twisters like these.
Even when words sound similar, they often feature subtle differences in how they’re pronounced, so you can study the distinctions between each sound as well.
Be sure to practice and master English pronunciation!
- Tongue twisters that will make you laugh out loud! Super funny
- A collection of long tongue twisters. Also recommended for practicing announcements and narration.
- [Diction Training] A Collection of Tongue Twisters to Improve Articulation
- Challenging tongue twisters: Introducing high-difficulty phrases and sentences!
- [Recreation] Challenge! A roundup of tongue twisters recommended for elementary school students
- Can you say them? A collection of Hakata-dialect tongue twisters
- Challenge together! A roundup of word games for adults
- Can you say them? A collection of Nagoya-dialect tongue twisters
- English will become more fun! A collection of trivia and fun facts about the English language.
- [Rec] Interesting! A roundup of wordplay games
- [For Seniors] Boost Oral Function with Tongue Twisters! Recommended Picks to Try
- A collection of words that start with “de”. Perfect for shiritori and word games.
- [Rhythm Play] A roundup of popular cup songs
Perfect for pronunciation practice! A collection of English tongue twisters (1–10)
A big black bug bit a big black bear.
Here are English tongue twisters that help you practice the B sound.
For both Japanese and English, tempo and rhythm are very important in tongue twisters.
You can practice the uniquely English B sound, which is formed a bit differently from the Japanese “bi” sound.
The letter B appears repeatedly, and by repeating the phrases you may be able to conquer any difficulties you have with that sound.
Since tongue twisters have a game-like quality, you can enjoy practicing in a playful way.
English has many sounds that don’t exist in Japanese, so it’s great to be able to practice them enjoyably with tongue-twister “games” like these.
Selfish shellfish
Isn’t the “sa” consonant row tricky for many Japanese speakers? “Selfish shellfish” is a tongue twister that means “a selfish seashell.” With this tongue twister, you can practice the sounds S, Sh, L, and F.
S is pronounced like the Japanese “sa-gyo,” while Sh is like the “sha-gyo.” For Sh, be sure to mix in a clear breathy sound.
For the L in this phrase, lift or scoop your tongue as you pronounce it.
Finally, for F, lightly touch or tap your lower lip with your upper front teeth.
F is voiceless; use only breath, like a whisper, to produce a “fa-gyo”-type sound.
Keep these tips in mind as you practice!
He threw three free throws.
Why not practice English-specific sounds that are difficult for Japanese speakers—such as S, TH, and R/L—through tongue twisters as a game, and master your articulation and pronunciation? English includes sounds that are hard to produce and don’t exist in the Japanese vowels a-i-u-e-o.
This isn’t an issue in grammar, but in conversation, listening, and speaking, the S and TH barrier often stands in the way.
Since different pronunciations can change meanings, it’s important to master them thoroughly.
Let’s tackle these tricky sounds in a fun way with English tongue twisters that let you learn while you play.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
These are upbeat English tongue twisters that require a sense of rhythm, almost like singing.
Start practicing slowly and gradually pick up the tempo.
They’re great for practicing the differences between S and R, Th sounds, and R versus L, as well as improving articulation—so give them a try.
These pronunciations can be a bit challenging for Japanese speakers, but by repeating tongue twisters, you can improve your diction while having fun.
Since each tongue twister includes many of these sounds, saying them makes for effective practice.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream
Recommended for beginners of English tongue twisters! “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream” is a tongue twister that means “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.” With this tongue twister, you can practice the pronunciation of “-ream.” Open your mouth horizontally and pronounce it like “reeem.” For the final M, don’t pronounce it like the Japanese “mu.” Instead, close your lips by tucking them in and make an “n”-like sound.
The way you close your lips is the key!
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” is a tongue twister meaning “Peter Piper picked a large quantity of pickled peppers.” It’s a tongue twister with many plosive P sounds.
The trick to pronouncing P is to keep your lips closed, build up air in your mouth, then release it by popping your lips open and exhaling.
If you firmly close your lips each time and release your breath forcefully, you’ll be able to master this tongue twister!
Red lorry,yellow,lorry.
Here’s one that features both “R” and “L,” sounds many Japanese speakers find difficult.
It means “red truck” and “yellow truck.” The sentence is short and looks easy at first glance, but the tongue movements for R and L are different.
For R, you pull your tongue back before pronouncing; for L, you touch your tongue to your upper front teeth before pronouncing.
Both the red truck and yellow truck phrases contain many alternating R’s and L’s, so it’s quite challenging if you try to articulate them clearly.
However, if you practice it as a tongue-twister—quickly and repeatedly—mastering clean R and L pronunciation won’t be just a dream!
