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Take on the world’s hardest tongue twisters! A roundup of ultra-tough prompts that’ll tie your tongue

Have you ever tried the “world’s hardest tongue twister”? Even well-known ones like “Tōkyō Tokkyo Kyoka-kyoku” and “Kaeru pyoko-pyoko” are tough enough, but there’s always something harder.

From fiendish Japanese challenges that cleverly use palatalized and geminate sounds to English tongue twisters recognized by Guinness, there are plenty of ultra-difficult lines guaranteed to tie your tongue.

In this article, we introduce the world’s hardest tongue twisters that you’ll want to try again and again.

Give them a go with your family and friends!

Take on the world's hardest tongue twisters! A roundup of ultra-tough prompts that will tie your tongue in knots (31–40)

elevated bridge pierNEW!

[Tongue Twister Navi] Elevated Bridge Piers | Japanese Tongue Twisters | Hayakuchi Kotoba |
elevated bridge pierNEW!

This is a tongue twister that uses words evoking the pillars that support an overpass.

Because similar or identical sounds like “kōkakyō” and “kyōkyaku” repeat in succession, your mouth gets tangled when you say it aloud, making you laugh without meaning to.

Children can take it on playfully, imagining peeking under the bridge or picturing turtles and little birds walking along the elevated bridge.

If you read it while picturing “a row of bridge piers of an overpass lined up in succession,” it feels more narrative than just a string of repeated words.

The more you repeat it, the more your sense of rhythm and mouth movements are trained, letting you enjoy both the fun of speaking out and the spirit of challenge each time you read—so try incorporating it into recreational activities.

In conclusion

We introduced the world’s hardest tongue twisters, and they were all the kind that make your tongue tie itself in knots, weren’t they? If you practice repeatedly while paying attention to mouth movement and rhythm, you should gradually be able to say them more smoothly.

Try tackling them with your family and friends, and enjoy the moments when you stumble or trip over the words, too!