Skip to main content

We're in Beta! Found a bug? Let us know using the feedback button at the bottom right.

↑↓ navigate ↵ open esc close

Listen to the shape of English

Tongue twisters

Playful combinations of sounds that challenge clear pronunciation. Read slowly and notice where the sounds change.

Expressions containing the, including its inflections. Clear word filter

15 entries

A Lovely Lily

9 words

A lovely lily lying all alone along the lane.

/l/

A Tutor Who Tooted

30 words

A tutor, who tooted a flute, tried to tutor two tooters to toot. Said the two to the tutor: “Is it harder to toot, or tutor two tooters to toot?”

/t//uː/

Amidst the Mists

26 words

Amidst the mists and coldest frosts, With barest wrists and stoutest boasts, He thrusts his fists against the posts, And still insists he sees the ghosts.

/s//t//f/

Betty Botter

66 words

Betty Botter bought some butter. “But,” she said, “this butter’s bitter; If I put it in my batter, It will make my batter bitter; But a bit of better butter Will but make my batter better.” So she bought a bit of butter Better than the bitter butter, And made her bitter batter better. So it was better Betty Botter Bought a bit of better butter.

/b//ɪ//ɛ//æ//ʌ/

Billy Button

27 words

Billy Button bought a buttered biscuit. Did Billy Button buy a buttered biscuit? If Billy Button bought a buttered biscuit, Where's the buttered biscuit Billy Button bought?

/b/

Dew Drops

16 words

As much of the dew that the dew drops drop, if dew drops do drop dew.

/d//ɹ//p/

High Up the Hill

9 words

High up the hill he heaved a huge hoe.

/h/

Peter Piper

35 words

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers? If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

/p//k/

Rough and Rugged Rocks

10 words

Around the rough and rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.

/ɹ/

Sift the Thistles

12 words

Fill the sieve with thistles, then sift the thistles in the sieve.

/s//θ//f/

The Bleak Breeze

8 words

The bleak breeze blighted the bright broom blossoms.

/b//l//ɹ/

The Fish-Sauce Shop

16 words

She stood at the door of Mrs. Smith’s fish-sauce shop in the Strand welcoming him in.

/s//ʃ//θ/

The Meal-Mill Wheel

8 words

Much water makes the meal-mill wheel work well.

/m//w//l/

Walter Waddle

27 words

Walter Waddle won a walking wager. Did Walter Waddle win a walking wager? If Walter Waddle won a walking wager, Where's the walking wager Walter Waddle won?

/w/

Windmills and the Millwheel

28 words

To the windmills said the millwheel: “As the wind wills do you still wheel?” “Yes, we still wheel when the wind wills!” To the millwheel said the windmills.

/w//l//ɪ//iː/

Send feedback

What is this about?

Choose the closest match.

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.