Tongue Twisters

A tongue-twister is a phrase in any language that is designed to be difficult to articulate properly. Tongue-twisters rely on similar but distinct phonemes (e.g., s and sh).

Many tongue-twisters use a combination of alliteration and rhyme. They have two or three sequences of sounds, then the same sequences of sounds with some sounds exchanged. For example, She sells sea shells on the sea shore. The shells that she sells are sea shells I'm sure. (or a variation: She sells sea shells on a sea shore, so the shells she sells are sure sea shore shells).

The hardest tongue-twister in the English language is supposedly The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick. An even longer version of this is The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick so six slick sheiks sold six sick sheep six silk sheets.

Another Famous English tongue twister is:

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 make my batter better!". So she bought some better butter, better than the bitter butter, and she put it in her batter and her batter was not bitter! So 'twas better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter.

Now, that we know what they are, {though most of us already knew!}, lets get goin'! :-)

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."