English tongue twisters with voice acting. Tongue twisters in English for practicing pronunciation. Tongue twisters in English with translation for children
Every day we encounter a foreign language, we have to study its phonetic features. Sometimes quite complex elements require lengthy training. But there is a way to solve this problem! Tongue Twisters. They were invented not only for fun, not to break the tongue. No, to learn to “speak clearly.” Do you want to have clear, correct and fast speech, like the British?
Tongue twisters in English can be short or long, simple or complex. Before you say everything, think about what sound you would like to perfect. After all, each rhyme is individual. For example, it can be aimed at producing plosives and interdental sounds, labial and nasal, fricatives and sonorants!
The real effect will be achieved if you read them out loud and repeat until noticeable progress is made. Moreover, they are easy to remember, and after several readings, you will pronounce the “pure saying” by heart. There are special audio courses that allow you to listen to each tongue twister. In addition to all the useful things, you will give yourself a lot of pleasure with funny, “hard to pronounce” phrases.
English tongue twisters for children and adults
By quickly pronouncing words in English, children have fun; to them it seems like a fun game, and not a tedious learning process. For kids, choose light and small tongue twisters, which can also be used as an addition to phonetic exercises. Don’t force yourself to learn 3 pieces a day: it’s better to do one or two in a month, but master them perfectly.
Start exercising your speech apparatus every day using the following English tongue twisters with translation:
| These thousand tricky tongue twisters trip thrillingly off the tongue. | Thousands of clever tongue twisters escape the tongue. |
| The two-twenty-two train tore through the tunnel. | Twenty-two trains burst through the tunnel. |
| Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick? | Piper Peter collected a bunch of salted peppers. Piper Peter collected a bunch of collected peppers. If the piper Peter collected a bunch of salted peppers. How many salted peppers did Peter collect? |
| The great Greek grape growers grow great Greek grapes. | Graceful clusters of Greek grapes grow in the grandiose Greek vineyards. |
| There’s a sandwich on the sand which was sent by a sane witch. | On the sand is a sandwich sent by a sensible witch. |
| How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? | How much wood would a woodchuck throw if a woodchuck could throw wood? |
| William always wears a very warm woolen vest in winter. Victor, however, will never wear woolen underwear even in the Wild Wild West. | William always wears a very warm wool vest in winter. Victor, however, would never wear woolen underwear, even in the Wild Wild West. |
| I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop. Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits. | I saw Susie sitting in the shoe shine shop. She sits where she cleans and cleans where she sits. |
| She sells sea shells at the sea shore, the shells she sells are the sea-shore shells, I’m sure. | She sells seashells on the seashore; The shells she sells are seashells, I'm sure of it. |
| Green glass globes glow green. | Green glass of a round shape glows with greenery. |
| Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager managing an imaginary menagerie? | Can you imagine an imaginary zoo manager running an imaginary zoo? |
| Good blood, bad blood. | Good blood, bad blood. |
| I scream, you scream, all we scream for ice cream! | I scream, and you scream, we all scream: ice cream! |
| Any noise annoys an oyster but a noisier noise annoys an oyster most. | Any noise annoys the oyster, but louder noise annoys the oyster even more. |
| One smart man, he felt smart. Two smart men, they both felt smart. Three smart men, they all felt smart. | One smart man felt smart. Two smart people felt smarter. Three smart people felt like the smartest. |
We have learned to quickly say rhymes, but we really want to know what meaning it hides. Many do not even advise looking there, calling it a thankless task. After all, a literal translation will not give anything, and some of them do not contain any meaning at all, just a collection of “nice-sounding words.” For example:
Rubber baby buggy bumpers
However, some of them carry a certain meaning. Of course, when translated it sounds the same English tongue twisters It won’t work, but you will understand what these words mean. Finding an exact Russian equivalent is difficult, because every rhyme is a “play” of English words.
These thousand tricky tongue twisters trip thrillingly off the tongue. — Thousands of clever tongue twisters escape the tongue.
How to work with tongue twisters in English?
There is nothing super new or complicated here. Just like in the Russian language: we start with simple ones, gradually increase “sound” skills and complicate the program. Remember that you first need to learn to read each pure phrase correctly, carefully pronounce each sound, then, starting at a slow pace, gradually increase the speed. But, having said it several times, do not throw the studied material into a distant drawer, repeat it again and again. This is an excellent warm-up for the speech apparatus before class.
Well! Are you ready to achieve perfect pronunciation and get rid of your accent? Then go for it! Your best helpers in this will be tongue twisters, by pronouncing which you will have fun and improve at the same time. And day after day your speech approaches ideal.
[ b]
The sound [b] is pronounced like a weakened Russian sound [b].
Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [b] is not softened.
A British builder built a building of brown bricks,
A Bulgarian builder built a building of black bricks,
A Brazilian builder built a building of blue bricks.
But which building will be a bit bad?
A brave biker booked a B&B in Brussels
With a big bath behind a blue basin in the bathroom,
With a brown wardrobe between the bath and the bed,
And a brick basement below the bedroom and the bathroom.
Brothers Bean bought for their baby brother Bob’s birthday
A big box of black bees, a blue box of brown beetles,
And a big blue box of beautiful butterflies.
But which blue box is a bit bigger?
When a big boss became a bit bored with Berlin branch of a bank
He booked a break on beautiful beaches in Biscay Bay.
But why did the big boss become a bit bored
And book the break in Biscay Bay?
Bab bakes brown biscuits for her boyfriend Bob’s birthdays,
Bob buys and brings Bab big beautiful bunches.
But if Bab didn't bake Bob brown biscuits,
Would Bob bring Bab big beautiful bunches?
Unlike the Russian sound [n], which is pronounced with the tongue resting on the front upper teeth, the English sound [n] is pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the tissues behind the front upper teeth, but not the teeth themselves. English [n] sounds less energetic than the Russian sound [n]. Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [n] is not softened.
Ned nicknamed his nag Netty,
Net nicknamed her nag Neddy.
Is Ned's nag nicknamed Netty?
Is Net’s nag nicknamed Neddy?
Neither a neat knitter needs to knit
By next November nine new knittings,
No a neat needlewoman needs to needle
By next November nine new neckties.
Ninety nice nestlings nestle in nine nests,
Nine nice nestlings nestle in ninety nests.
If ninety nice nestlings didn’t nestle in nine nests,
Would nine nice nestlings nestle in ninety nests?
Nat's nephew is naughtier than Nik's niece,
Nik's nephew is naughtier than Nat's niece,
If Nat's nephew wasn't naughtier than Nik's niece,
Would Nik's nephew be naughtier than Nik's niece?
Nanny Nancy never naps at nights at her nineteen,
Nanny Nelly nid-nods at nights at her ninety.
If Nanny Nancy napped at nights at her nineteen,
Would Nanny Nelly nid-nod at nights at her ninety?
[ æ ]
The short vowel sound [æ] is pronounced with noticeable tension. Qualitatively contrasts with the sound [e]. To avoid mistakenly pronouncing the Russian sound [e] instead of the English sound [æ], the tongue should be placed low in the mouth, as when pronouncing the Russian sound [a]. The lower jaw should be noticeably lowered. In this case, the bulk of the tongue should remain in the front of the mouth, and its tip should be pressed against the lower teeth.
Ann has a hat in her handbag,
Dan has a cap in his backpack.
If Ann didn't have the hat in her handbag,
Would Dan have the cap in his backpack?
Nat can translate from Italian to Spanish,
Pat can translate from Spanish to Italian.
Can Pat translate from Italian to Spanish?
Can Nat translate from Spanish to Italian?
Mat has accidents traveling by tram,
Sam has accidents traveling by taxi.
If Mat didn't have accidents traveling by tram,
Would Sam have accidents traveling by taxi?
Mag has a salad with ham and carrots,
Sal has a salad with lamb and cabbage.
If Mag didn't have the salad with ham and carrot,
Would Sal have the salad with lamb and cabbage?
Alice Adam chats with attractive actors,
Andy Alan chats with attractive actresses.
If Alice Adam didn't chat with attractive actors,
Would Andy Alan chat with attractive actresses?
[ ʧ ]
The sound [ʧ] is pronounced like the Russian sound [ch], but energetically and firmly, without any softening. For correct articulation of the English sound [ʧ], the second element [∫] should be pronounced as firmly as the Russian sound [ш].
A cheetah chases chancy in a chilly chine
Chinchillas, chipmucks and chaffinches.
Which chase of the cheetah in the chilly chine is chancier:
Chinchillas, chipmucks or chaffinches?
A chinaman chaffers on the Change to cheapen china,
A chandler chaffers on the Change to cheapen chandlery.
If the chinaman didn’t chaffer on the Change to cheapen china,
Would the chandler chaffer to cheapen chandlery?
A Chilean chess-player checks to a Chinese chess-player,
The Chinese chess-player checkmates to the Chilean.
If the Chilean chess-player didn’t check to the Chinese,
Would the Chinese chess-player checkmate to the Chilean?
A charwoman chars a chamber with Chippendale furniture:
A chimney, chairs, china, pictures and armchairs.
If the chimney, chairs and china wasn’t in Chippendale,
Would the charwoman char the chamber with furniture?
Chanters in a church chant cheerier than chanters in a chapel,
Chanters in the chapel chant chillier than in the church.
If the chanters in the church didn't chant cheerier,
Would the chanters in the chapel chant chillier?
There are no analogues to the sound [ŋ] in Russian. Simplified, the English sound [ŋ] is the sound [g] when pronounced through the nose with the soft palate fully depressed. Just as for the sound [g], when pronouncing the sound [ŋ], the back of the tongue closes with the soft palate, but the latter, when articulating the sound [ŋ], is completely lowered, and the air passes not through the mouth, but through the nose. When pronouncing the sound [ŋ], the tip of the tongue must be at the lower teeth, and the front and middle parts of the tongue must not touch the palate. You should avoid the overtone [g] after the sound [ŋ] and do not replace the sound [ŋ] with the sound [n].
A single singer is walking along the bank
Singing a languishing song
And bringing pink pinks for his darling.
Is anything wrong with the single singer’s song?
A young banker is thinking of giving
A thanking banquet at Thanksgiving.
Is the young banker thinking of something
For drinking at the Thanksgiving banquet?
Uncle Frank being an angry hunks
Is dingdong looking among his belongings
For a dinky bank of hanky-panky including
Rings, bangles, hangers, anklets and earrings.
An English banker is sinking clankingly
A long anchor at the brink of Hong Kong
Among concourse of alongshore plankton
Including conchs, winkles, anglers and congers.
The English king is going to conquer Hungary,
The Hungarian king is going to conquer England.
If the English king wasn't going to conquer Hungary,
Would the Hungarian king be going to conquer England?
[ a: ]
A long vowel sound is pronounced tensely. With its drawl, characteristic pressing of the root of the tongue in the mouth and low timbre, English is reminiscent of the sound made when showing the throat to a doctor. In order to correctly pronounce the English sound, without making it similar to the Russian sound [a], you should move the root of the tongue back and down as far as possible.
Mark parks his car in a car park,
Bart parks his car in a dark park.
If Mark didn't his park car in the car park,
Would Bart park his car in the dark park?
Aunty Blanche asks after Aunty Margie,
Aunty Margie asks after Aunty Blanche.
If Aunty Blanche didn't ask after Aunty Margie,
Would Aunty Margie ask after Aunty Blanche?
Mark's car's faster than Bart's car,
Bart's car is smarter than Mark's car.
If Mark's car wasn't faster than Bart's car,
Would Bart's car be smarter than Mark's car?
In March Charles starts to plant tomatoes
In a large garden at half past one in the afternoon.
Charles can't start to plant tomatoes
In a large garden at half past two in the afternoon.
Mark's father starts parties at half past five,
Bart’s father starts parties at half past six.
If Mark’s father didn’t start parties at half past five,
Would Bart's father start parties at half past six?
The sound [d] is pronounced like a weakened Russian sound [d]. Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [d] is not softened. The overtone [ə] should be avoided before combinations of the sound [d] with the sounds [n] and [l], for which purpose the instant pause formed between the sounds [d] and [n] should be given nasal articulation, and the instant pause between the sounds [d] and [l] respectively lateral articulation (at the place of formation - between the lateral edge of the tongue and the cheek lowered to one side).
Dolly Dale dances with Davy Dail,
Davy Dail dates to Dolly Dale.
If Dolly Dale didn't dance with Davy Dail,
Would Davy Dail date to Dolly Dale?
Daisy's Dad doesn't have a driver,
So he drives his daughter daily to downtown.
If Daisy's Dad had a driver,
Would he drive Daisy daily to downtown?
Doris Draft designed a dark dress in December,
Today Doris Draft is designing a red dress.
Does Doris Draft understand
How is it difficult to design different dresses?
Dick got ten double DVDs and two digital devices
For a dozen dollars at a department store.
Is it a good idea to get DVDs and digital devices
At a department store?
Deborah Deem described her dream to Doctor Dean,
Doctor Dean drew Deborah Deem’s dream in diagrams.
If Doctor Dean described his dream to Deborah Deem,
Could Deborah Deem draw Doctor Dean’s dream in diagrams?
The sound [p] is pronounced like the Russian sound [p], but more energetically and aspirated before vowel sounds. Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [p] is not softened.
Paolo Piccolli prepared for his presentation’s party
A pair of plates of pizzas with potatoes and pepper
And a pair of plates of pasta with prawns.
Which pair of plates pleased people at Paolo’s party?
The police picked up a pink packet with an MP3 player
And personal details in a peaceful place of a Prague’s park.
It was a Polly’s present from her parents.
The police put the packet to a post office.
Pablo Picasso put off his palette, paintbox and paintbrushes
And painted with pen a picture of a peaceful place in Paris
With a pink palace and a paled park plenty of pretty plants.
What’s the possible picture’s price?
A poor Polish pianist played popular plays from the past
For Portuguese prince and princess in a Paris’ palace.
The prince and princess paid the pianist plenty of pounds.
The poor Polish pianist put his purse in a pocket.
The Polish president plays pool with the Portuguese president
In a peaceful place of the president’s palace in Prague.
The Polish president plays pool poorly,
But which pool player is the poorer partner?
The short vowel sound [e] is pronounced without tension. The English sound [e] is somewhat reminiscent of the Russian sound [e] in words light And these, if pronounced very briefly. However, it should be remembered that consonant sounds before the English sound [e] are not softened. When pronouncing the English sound [e], the middle part of the tongue is raised higher to the palate than when pronouncing the Russian sound [e], and the distance between the jaws is narrower.
Ten men mend seven hedges,
Seven men mend ten hedges.
If ten men didn't mend seven hedges,
Would seven men mend ten hedges?
Jen spent ten pence on a dress,
Jem spent seven pence on a sweater.
Can Jen spend seven pence on a dress?
Can Jem spend ten pence on a sweater?
Fresh bread smells better than fresh eggs,
Fresh eggs smell better than fresh lemons.
If fresh bread didn't smell better than fresh eggs,
Would fresh eggs smell better than fresh lemons?
Pen never sends letters in red envelopes,
Peg never sends letters in yellow envelopes.
If Pen sent letters in red envelopes,
Would Peg send letters in yellow envelopes?
Em and Ed’s friends presented them a desk,
Em and Ed’s relatives presented them a bed.
Which wedding present is more expensive:
The friends’ desk or the relatives’ bed?
The sound [f] is pronounced like the Russian sound [f], but more energetically and without the participation of the upper lip.
Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [f] is not softened.
The first fly flies forty-four feet,
The fourth fly flies forty-five feet,
The fifth fly flies fifty-four feet.
What fly flies fifty-five feet?
The first flat is on the fifty-first floor,
The fourth flat is on the fifty-fourth floor,
The fifth flat is on the fifty-fifth floor.
Which flat is furnished finer, in fact?
A fat Finnish fisher fried for a funny feast on Friday
Forty-four fries, forty-five flukes,
Fifty-four flitches and fifty-five flatfishes
Found freshly in a far fiord.
Federico Fellini finished in February of the fifty-fifth
A film-farce far-famed in the fifties,
Featuring a famous French filmstar of the fifties,
Fixing fairly for her a fantastic fee!
Frank's father followed a fox's footprints in a forest,
Fred's father followed a ferret's footprints in a field,
Phil's father followed a frog's footprints in a fen,
Whose footprints finished by the fence?
The sound [r] is a very weak consonant, only conditionally comparable to the Russian sound [r]. The sound [r] is pronounced with the position of the speech organs, as for the Russian sound [zh], but the gap formed between the raised tip of the tongue and the front part of the hard palate is somewhat wider than for the sound [zh]. The tip of the tongue is bent back and should not vibrate. When pronouncing the English sound [r], only the vocal cords vibrate. The middle and back of the tongue remain flat. To avoid replacing the English sound [r] with the Russian sound [r], it should be remembered that when forming the English sound [r], the tongue does not hit either the teeth or the upper tissues of the oral cavity, remaining motionless.
Ray raises rams on Roy's ranch,
Roy raises rams on Ray's ranch.
If Ray didn't raise rams on Roy's ranch,
Would Roy raise rams on Ray's ranch?
Rose Reed replants red roses,
And the red roses ramp around a rail.
If Rose Reed didn't replant the red roses recently,
Would the red roses ramp around the rail?
A rector refreshes in a refectory,
A referee refreshes in a restaurant.
If the rector didn’t refresh in a refectory,
Would the referee refresh in a restaurant?
A rangy ragman in a red ragged raglan
Ranges around a rag fair with a red rag bag.
If the rangy ragman wasn’t in the red ragged raglan,
Would he range around the rag fair with the red rag bag?
Rita replaces radish in a refection’s receipt,
Ruth replaces rice in a delight’s receipt.
If Rita didn’t replace radish in the refection’s receipt,
Would Ruth replace rice in the delight’s receipt?
[ I ]
The short vowel sound [I] is pronounced without tension. Qualitatively (by place and method of articulation) and quantitatively (by longitude) it is contrasted with a long sound. The English sound [I] slightly resembles the unstressed Russian sound [i] in the word game and the stressed Russian sound [i] after hissing ones. For correct articulation of the sound [I], the tongue should be positioned lower in the mouth than when pronouncing the Russian sound [i]. Consonant sounds before the sound [I] are not softened, which requires special attention. At the same time, the English sound [I] should not resemble the Russian sound [ы].
Kit babysits with Nik's sister,
Nik babysits with Kit's sister.
If Kit didn't babysit with Nik's sister,
Would Nik babysit with Kit’s sister?
Mister Twister daily visits a busy city
With many office buildings.
Is it easy to live in a busy city
With many office buildings?
A pink sink is behind a big refrigerator,
The big refrigerator is in front of the pink sink.
If the pink sink wasn’t behind the big refrigerator,
Would the big refrigerator be in front of the pink sink?
A single singer drinks milk in the morning,
A single artist drinks coffee for his dinner.
If the single singer didn’t drink milk in the morning,
Would the single artist drink coffee for his dinner?
Village builders build bridges over rivers,
City builders build cinemas on hills.
If village builders didn't build bridges over rivers,
Would city builders build cinemas on hills?
The sound [g] is pronounced like a weakened Russian sound [g].
Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [g] is not softened.
Grace Gordon got a gray garlic and green gherkins
From a greengrocer to garnish a greasy grilled goose.
Are the gray garlic and the green gherkins
A good garnish for a greasy grilled goose?
A gray gardener is going to go through a green gate
On green grass of a gorgeous garden, by a gray garage,
By garden-beds with gales to a glasshouse
To get some greenery for a glamor garden-party.
Gray goats graze on green grass growing in a gorge,
Gray geese graze on green grass growing in a garden.
Which grass is greener: growing in the gorge
Or growing in the garden where the gray geese graze?
Gregory Gael gathered his great-grandchildren
To give them a golf game on green grass of his garden.
Guess if Gregory Gael’s great-grandchildren got gay
From the golf game on green grass of his garden!
A gay guide greets gladly in Greek groups of Greek guests
In Getty gallery gathering Goya, Gaugain and Van Gogh.
If Getty gallery didn't gather Goya, Gaugain and Van Gogh
Would the gay guide greet gladly in Greek groups of guests?
The sound [s] resembles the Russian sound [s], but is pronounced more energetically. The tongue, in comparison with the Russian sound [s], when pronouncing the English sound [s] is raised upward, and a stream of air passes between the tip of the tongue and the tissues behind the front upper teeth, and not between the tongue and the teeth themselves. Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [s] is not softened.
A single singer sings a sad song
About sixty-six sisters sitting by the sea at sunset.
If sixty-six sisters weren’t sitting by the sea,
Would the single singer sing the sad song about them?
Cecil's sisters send to Cecil's sons in Seattle
Suitcases with sixty-six sweaters of “S” size.
If Cecil's sons weren't in Seattle,
Would Cecil's sisters send them sixty-six sweaters?
Some small restaurants in the center of the city
Serve six sorts of seafood soups on Sundays.
Some small restaurants in the south of the city
Serve seven sorts of seafood soups on Saturdays.
Sally’s sister spent sixty-six pence on sauces,
Sarah’s sister spent sixty-seven pence on sauces,
Susan's sister spent seventy-six pence on sauces.
Whose sister spent seventy-seven pence on sauces?
Sixty-six sisters sewed sixty-six silk skirts,
Sixty-seven sisters sewed sixty-seven silk skirts,
Seventy-six sisters sewed seventy-six silk skirts.
Did seventy-seven sisters sew seventy-seven silk skirts?
[ I: ]
A long vowel sound is pronounced tensely. It is qualitatively and quantitatively contrasted with the short sound [i]. The English sound is somewhat reminiscent of the Russian sound [i] in the word willow, if you pronounce it tensely and drawlingly. Consonant sounds are not softened before the sound. In addition to longitude, the English sound is characterized by its heterogeneity throughout. When pronouncing a sound, the tongue moves forward and upward in the oral cavity.
CD is cheaper than DVD,
DVD is cheaper than MP3,
MP3 is cheaper than TV,
Is CD cheaper than TV?
Fifteen teens eat fifteen sweets,
Sixteen teens eat sixteen sweets.
If fifteen teens didn't eat fifteen sweets,
Would sixteen teens eat sixteen sweets?
Greek teachers teach speaking Greek,
Sweden teachers teach speaking Sweden.
If Greek teachers didn’t teach speaking Greek,
Would Sweden teachers teach speaking Sweden?
Pete weekly leaves green field
To see the deep sea from a clean beach.
Does Pete feel sleepy on the clean beach
Seeing the deep sea each week?
Eastern people eat meals in the evening
With meat, cheese, cream, sweets and tea.
Is it easy for Eastern people to eat in the evening
Meat, cheese, cream, sweets and tea?
[ ʤ ]
The sound [ʤ] is pronounced in the same way as [ʧ], but with a voice, less energetically and always with a second soft element [ʒ].
Jean jellies ginger jam in June,
Jess jellies ginger jam in July.
If Jean didn't jelly ginger jam in June,
Could Jess jelly ginger jam in July?
Judy Jones jigs with Jim James,
Jozy James lives with Job Jones.
If Judy Jones didn't jig with Jim James,
Could Jozy James live with Job Jones?
A German jockey gentles a Gipsy gee-gee,
A Gipsy jockey gentlemen a German gee-gee.
If the German jockey didn't gentle the Gipsy gee-gee,
Could the Gipsy jockey gentle the German gee-gee?
John changed a jug of juice to a jar of gin,
Jane changed a jar of gin to a jug of juice.
If John didn't change the jug of juice to the jar of gin,
Could Jane change the jar of gin to the jug of juice?
Jack's job is to jewel jewel-boxes with jasper,
Jeff's job is to jewel jewel-cases with jet,
If Jack's job wasn't to jewel jewel-boxes with jasper,
Could Jeff’s job be to jewel jewel-cases with jet?
The sound [∫] is pronounced like a softened Russian sound [ш], but not as soft as the sound [ш]. The position of the tip of the tongue is the same as when pronouncing the English sound [s], but the gap into which air is passed is wider, and the speech organs are less tense.
Sharon washed dishes in a dishwasher,
Next she washed shades in a washing machine.
Should she wash the dishes in the dishwasher
Before washing the shades in the washing machine?
A shifty shopkeeper shut the shop’s shutters
To show on a shelf shabby shammy shoes.
Should the shifty shopkeeper shut the shop’s shutters
To show on the shelf the shabby shammy shoes?
A shingly shore shelves to a shelly shelf,
A shelly shore shelves to a shingly shelf.
If the shingly shore didn't shelve to the shelly shelf,
Would the shelly shore shelve to the shingly shelf?
A sharp sheik and a shifty shah shared the shot
For a shindig in Sheraton with shrimps, sherbet and sherry.
Should a shilly-shally chef of Sheraton
Shirk the shindig with shrimps, sherbet and sherry?
A shoeless shoeshine showed to a shoemaker
A shabby shoebox with shoehorns, shoelaces and shoepolish.
Should the shoeless shoeshine show to the shoemaker
The shabby shoebox with shoehorns, shoelaces and shoepolish?
[ ɜ : ]
The long vowel sound [ɜ:] is pronounced tensely. When pronouncing the sound [ɜ:], the lips are stretched, the teeth are slightly exposed. Consonant sounds before the sound [ɜ:] are not softened. The English sound [ɜ:] should not resemble the Russian sounds [o] and [e]. It is the sound [ɜ:], as a rule, that is pronounced by native English speakers when thinking about an answer or selecting the right word.
German learners learn German words,
Turkish learners learn Turkish words.
If German learners didn't learn German words,
Would Turkish learners learn Turkish words?
The first skirt is dirtier than the third shirt,
The first shirt is dirtier than the third skirt.
If the first skirt wasn't dirtier than the third shirt,
Would the first shirt be dirtier than the third skirt?
Bert’s servant served for his thirty-first birthday
Thirty burgers and thirteen desserts.
Is it early for Bert’s servant to serve for his thirty-third birthday
Thirteen burgers and thirty desserts?
German nurses earn more than Turkish nurses,
Turkish nurses earn less than German nurses.
Do German nurses deserve more than Turkish nurses?
Do Turkish nurses deserve less than German nurses?
The first expert prefers desserts to burgers,
The third expert prefers burgers to desserts.
If the first expert didn’t prefer desserts to burgers,
Would the third expert prefer burgers to desserts?
[ h ]
There are no analogues to the sound [h] in the Russian language. The consonant sound [h] is a simple exhalation without the participation of the tongue and rounding of the lips - as when blowing on glass to clean it. The sound [h] is not noisy and in no case should it resemble the Russian sound [x].
Hugo Hall's hobbyhorse is handball,
Harry Hill's hobbyhorse is hockey.
If Hugo Hall's hobbyhorse wasn't handball,
How could Harry Hill's hobbyhorse be hockey?
A housewife who holds her house by herself,
Has a home help who helps her.
If the housewife didn't hold her house by herself,
How could she have a home help who helps her?
A hard-headed hunter hunts with a hawk,
A hard-hearted hunter hunts with a hound.
If the hard-headed hunter didn't hunt with a hawk,
How could the hard-hearted hunter hunt with a hound?
A heedful herd herds his herd on a hill,
A heedless herd herds his herd on a heath.
If the heedful herd didn't herd his herd on the hill,
How could the heedless herd herd on the heath?
A hirsute hippie hitchhikes on highways,
A homeless hippie hoboеs on Hollywood hills.
If the hirsute hippie didn't hitchhike on highways,
How could the homeless hippie hobo on Hollywood hills?
The sound [t] resembles the Russian sound [t], but is pronounced more energetically and aspirated before vowel sounds. Compared to the Russian sound [t], when pronouncing the English sound [t], the tip of the tongue is raised towards the tissues located behind the front teeth. Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [t] is not softened. The overtone [ə] should be avoided before combinations with the sounds [n] and [l], for which purpose the momentary pause formed between the sounds [t] and [n] should be given nasal articulation, and the momentary pause between the sounds [t] and [l], respectively lateral articulation (at the place of formation - between the lateral edge of the tongue and the cheek lowered to one side).
Terry teaches Technology from two to ten,
Tilly teaches Tennis from ten to twelve.
Which teaching takes more time:
Terry's Technology or Tilly's Tennis?
Tim told Tom a true story about twenty-two tall trees
That Tim planted at a mountain top.
Is Tim’s story about twenty-two tall trees
At the mountain top totally true?
Thomas takes a table in a Turkish restaurant
To taste twenty-two hot tomatoes.
If Thomas didn't take a table in the Turkish restaurant,
Could he taste twenty-two hot tomatoes?
Mister Twister put in a white suitcase
Two pairs of tweed trousers, eight white T-shirts,
Ten Turkish towels, twelve tweed coats, twenty white ties,
Twenty-two tick hats and twenty-eight white tops, too.
It takes Ted twenty minutes to travel to town by tram,
It takes Toby twelve minutes to travel to town by train,
It takes Tony ten minutes to travel to town by taxi.
What a terrible transport system!
[ ɒ ]
The short vowel sound [ɒ] is pronounced without tension. The English sound [ɒ] is somewhat similar to the Russian sound [o] in the word horse, if you pronounce it without rounding or protruding your lips. When pronouncing the sound [ɒ], you need to move your tongue back as much as possible, as when pronouncing the sound, and, opening your mouth wide, try to achieve minimal rounding of your lips.
Rock concerts shock pop icons,
Pop concerts shock rock icons.
If rock concerts didn't shock pop icons,
Would pop concerts shock rock icons?
Rob often drops his wallet in shops,
Tom often drops his wallet at stops.
If Rob didn't often drop his wallet in shops,
Would Tom often drop his wallet at stops?
Dolly wants to watch novels on TV,
Polly wants to watch horrors on TV.
If Dolly didn't want to watch novels on TV,
Would Polly want to watch horrors on TV?
John locks his modern office at five o'clock,
Rolf locks his modern office at six o’clock.
If John didn't lock his modern office at five o'clock,
Would Rolf lock his modern office at six o'clock?
A box of olives costs more than a bottle of squash,
A bottle of squash costs less than a box of olives.
If a box of olives didn’t cost more than a bottle of squash,
Would a bottle of squash cost less than a box of olives?
[ j ]
The sound [j] is pronounced like a noticeably weakened Russian sound [th].
US students are younger than UK junkers,
UK junkers are cuter than US students.
If US students weren't younger than UK junkers,
Could UK junkers be cuter than US students?
New Year's menu usually uses
Cukes, onion, yoghurt, Yorkshire and cucumbers.
How can New Year's menu usually use
Cukes, onion, yoghurt, Yorkshire and cucumbers?
Yankee yachtsmen's yachts yaw for one yard,
Yakut yachtsmen’s yachts yaw for two yards.
If Yankee yachtsmen's yachts didn't yaw for one yard,
Could Yakut yachtsmen’s yachts yaw for two yards?
Uniformed yardmen yap with uniformed yardmasters,
Uniformed yardmasters yap with uniformed yardmen.
If uniformed yardmen didn't yap with uniformed yardmasters,
Could uniformed yardmasters yap with uniformed yardmen?
Yesterday a new newsagent introduced a newspaper
That continues to interview young popular musicians.
Why the new newsagent introduced the newspaper
That continues to interview young popular musicians?
[ θ ]
There are no analogues to the sound [θ] in Russian. When pronouncing the strong English consonant [θ], the tongue lies flat in the mouth, and its tip is between the upper and lower front teeth. Air is exhaled into the gap formed in this way between the edge of the upper teeth and the tip of the tongue. To avoid the formation of the [f] sound, the teeth should be exposed so that the lower lip does not touch the upper teeth. To avoid the formation of the sound [s], the tip of the tongue should be between the teeth, and the tongue itself should remain flat, especially its front part.
Three thievish thieves thieve thirty things,
Thirty thievish thieves thieve three things.
If three thieves didn't thieve thirty things,
Would thirty thieves thieve three things?
Three therapists threw three thermometers
In three thick thickets of thorny thistle.
Why did three therapists throw three thermometers
In three thick thickets of thorny thistle?
Thirty-three thousand and thirteen thinkers thought
Thirty-three thousand and thirteen thoughts.
Did thirteen thousand and thirty-three thinkers think
Thirteen thousand and thirty-three thoughts?
Three theaters thrill thirty thousand of theatergoers
By thirty thousand thrilling thrillers on Thursdays.
Did thirty theaters thrill three thousand of theatergoers
By three thousand thrilling thrillers on Thursdays?
The theme of thesis of theatrical theorists is theater,
The theme of thesis of theological theorists is the theology,
If the theme of thesis of theatrical theorists was the theology,
Would the theme of thesis of theological theorists be theater?
[ ɔ : ]
The long vowel sound [ɔ:] is pronounced tensely, with the tongue pulled back and the lips strongly rounded. You should avoid the protrusion of the lips, which is characteristic of the articulation of the Russian sound [o], which leads to the formation of the overtone [у], which is unusual for the English sound [ɔ:].
All Paul's daughters were born in Cork,
All Walt's daughters were born in York.
Why were all Paul’s daughters born in Cork?
Why were all Walt’s daughters were born in York?
Four explorers explore forty waterfalls,
Forty explorers explore four waterfalls.
If four explorers didn't explore forty waterfalls,
Would forty explorers explore four waterfalls?
Football's a more important sport than baseball,
Baseball is a less important sport than football.
If football wasn't a more important sport than baseball,
Would baseball be a less important sport than football?
A poor lord always goes for a walk
With a small Walkman at quarter to four in the morning.
Is the poor lord already bored with his walks
With a small Walkman at quarter to four in the morning?
Dora's daughter is taller than Nora's daughter,
Nora's daughter is shorter than Dora's daughter.
If Dora's daughter wasn't taller than Nora's daughter,
Would Nora's daughter be shorter than Dora's daughter?
[ ʒ ]
The sound [ʒ] is pronounced like a softened Russian sound [zh], but not as soft as in the word reins. The sound [ʒ] differs from the sound [∫] only in the use of voice when pronouncing it.
Beige lingerie is more usual than azure bijou,
Azure bijou is less usual than beige lingerie.
If beige lingerie wasn’t more usual than azure bijou,
Would azure bijou be less usual than beige lingerie?
Leisured gigolos are as usual as casual concierges,
Casual gigolos are as unusual as leisured concierges.
If leisured gigolos were as unusual as casual concierges,
Would casual gigolos be as usual as leisured concierges?
Caucasian users usually measure their treasure,
Asian users occasionally measure their treasure.
If Caucasian users didn't usually measure their treasure,
Could Asian users occasionally measure their treasure?
Visual revision of a fuselage for corrosion usually
Occasions garage, camouflage and demolition of the fuselage.
Could visual revision of a fuselage for corrosion casually
Occasion garage, camouflage and demolition of the fuselage?
Liege bourgeois corteges are more luxurious than Bruges’,
Bruges bourgeois corteges are more prestigious than Liege's.
If Liege bourgeois corteges weren’t more luxurious,
Would Bruges bourgeois corteges be more prestigious?
[ ð ]
There are no analogues to the sound [ð] in the Russian language. The sound [ð] is pronounced in the same way as the sound [θ], but with a voice and less energetically. To avoid the formation of sound [v], the teeth should be exposed so that the lower lip does not touch the upper teeth. To avoid the formation of the sound [z], the tip of the tongue should be between the teeth, and the tongue itself should remain flat, especially its front part.
These brothers bathe with those brothers,
Those brothers bathe with these brothers.
If these brothers didn't bathe with those brothers,
Would those brothers bathe with these brothers?
This leather's smoother than that leather,
That leather's smoother than this leather.
If this leather wasn't smoother than that leather,
Would that leather be smoother than this leather?
This brother's together with that brother,
That brother's together with this brother.
If this brother wasn't together with that brother,
Would that brother be together with this brother?
These clothes are rather for the southern weather,
Those clothes are rather for the northern weather.
If these clothes weren’t rather for the southern weather,
Would those clothes be rather for the northern weather?
These brothers gather with their mother,
Those brothers gather with their father.
If these brothers didn't gather with their mother,
Would those brothers gather with their father?
[ ʊ ]
The short vowel sound [ʊ] is pronounced without tension. It is qualitatively and quantitatively opposed to long. Its main difference from Russian [у] is that when pronouncing [ʊ], the lips hardly round or protrude.
A cook’s bookshelf is full of cookbooks,
A bookman’s bookcase is full of good books.
If the cook’s bookshelf wasn’t full of cookbooks,
Would the bookman's bookcase be full of good books?
A good-looking woman cooks cookies
With sugar and gooseberry from a good cookbook.
If the cookbook wasn't good,
Could the good-looking woman cook good cookies?
Good fullers are good at fulling wool,
Good cooks are good at cooking cookies,
Good bookmen are good at footnoting books.
Could good booksellers be good at booking books?
In July good-looking footballers full time footle
To good-looking booking-clerks at a booking-office.
Could the good-looking footballers full time footle
To the good-looking booking-clerks in a buffet?
Cooks look for cookbooks on bookstalls,
Bookmen look for good books in bookshops.
Could cooks look for cookbooks in bookshops?
Could bookmen look for good books on bookstalls?
The sound [k] is pronounced like the Russian sound [k], but more energetically and aspirated before vowel sounds. Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [k] is not softened.
Kate can calculate calories in a cup of coffee,
Carol can calculate calories in a cup of cocoa.
Can Kate calculate calories in a cup of cocoa?
Can Carol calculate calories in a cup of coffee?
The café closes to the chemist closes at one o’clock,
The café close to the castle closes at two o’clock,
The café close to the cathedral closes at three o’clock.
Can the café close to the cloister close at four o’clock?
A cool captain in a cap and a cape cons calmly
Crafts with cargo keeping course to Calcutta.
If the cool captain wasn’t in the cap and the cape
Could he calmly crafts with cargo to Calcutta?
A clever cook cleans a cooker in a cozy kitchen
To cook crisp cookies on a clean cooker.
If the clever cook didn’t clean the cooker in the cozy kitchen
Can she cook crisp cookies on the clean cooker?
A Canadian cannery can can carrots in cool cans,
A Columbian cannery can can cucumbers in cool cans,
Can the Canadian cannery can cucumbers in cool cans,
And can the Columbian cannery can carrots in cool cans?
[ v]
The sound [v] is pronounced like a weakened Russian sound [v], but without the participation of the upper lip. Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [v] is not softened.
A very versed valuer valued the value
Of the vanished Venetian vase in Vatican.
Why did the very versed valuer value the value
Of the Venetian vase vanished from Vatican?
A village vet visits villagers in the vicinity
To vaccinate village calves from a virulent virus.
If the village vet didn’t visit villagers in the vicinity,
Could he vaccinate the village calves from the virulent virus?
Vincent Voice vanquished Vivienne Vogue
With very vivid verses in a velvet valentine.
If Vincent Voice versify his velleity in the velvet valentine,
To vanquish Vivienne Vogue?
A very virtual violinist vanned in a van to Vancouver
A viatic valise with a viol, a viola and a violin.
Was a venture for the very virtuous violinist to van in the van
The viatic valise with the viol, the viola and the violin?
A very venal vinedresser views a vast valley
With vineyards and vineyards to value the vintage.
If the very venal vinedresser didn’t view the vast valley,
Could he value the vintage of the vineyards and vineyards?
[ u: ]
A long vowel sound is pronounced tensely. It is qualitatively and quantitatively contrasted with the short sound [ʊ]. In addition to longitude, English sound, like sound, is characterized by heterogeneity of sound throughout. When pronouncing a sound, the tongue moves backward and upward in the oral cavity. The lips are noticeably rounded at the initial moment and, as the tongue moves, they become even more rounded. To avoid replacing the English sound with the Russian sound [u], when rounding your lips, you should not protrude them.
Ruth views ruined Pluto’s statues,
Luke views ruined Neptune’s statues.
If Ruth didn't view ruined Pluto's statues,
Would Luke view ruined Neptune’s statues?
A school’s menu usually includes
Seafood soup, noodles and stewed fruit.
A university’s menu usually includes
Goose, cucumbers, mushrooms and fruit juice.
There are two blue suits in Lew’s suitcase,
There are two blue shoes in Sue’s suitcase.
If there weren’t two blue suits in Lew’s suitcase,
Would there be two blue shoes in Sue’s suitcase?
A cute beauty saloon usually uses
Perfume, shampoo and toothpaste produced in the US.
Is it usual for a cute beauty saloon to use
Perfume, shampoo and toothpaste produced in the US?
Judy's room has a beautiful view of a pool,
Lucy’s room has a beautiful view of ruins.
If Judy's room didn't have a beautiful view of the pool,
Would Lucy’s room have a beautiful view of the ruins?
[ l ]
Unlike the Russian sound [l], the English sound [l] is pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the tissues directly behind the front upper teeth. Before vowels it sounds somewhat softer, but not as much as the Russian sound [l]. At the same time, when not in front of vowel sounds, the English sound [l] never sounds as solid as the Russian sound [l].
A lass lays lacy lingerie up in lime,
A laundress lays lawny lingerie up in lily,
A lady-help lays linen lingerie up in lilac.
What lingerie does a landlady lay up in lavender?
A loyal lackey in a laky livery lights
Lamps in a lobby later than lamps in a library.
If the loyal lackey wasn't in the laky livery,
Would he light lamps in the lobby later than in the library?
A limber lady-help laid lately in a little larder
Lots of lard, lamb, leek, liver, leaven, lentil,
Lettuce, limes, lemons, loaves and lobsters.
Does the lady-help like a lack of livelihood?
A large lorry is a lot longer than a little lorry,
A little lorry is a lot lighter than a large lorry.
If the large lorry wasn't longer than the little lorry,
Would the little lorry be lighter than the large lorry?
A law lecturer labors in a little lab,
A letters lectuter labors in a large library.
If the law lecturer doesn’t labor in the little lab,
Would the letters lectuter labor in the large library?
There are no analogues to the sound [w] in the Russian language. The English sound [w] is produced by instantly passing a stream of air through a gap formed by strongly rounded and slightly protruding lips. The teeth do not touch the lower lip. The sound [w] is pronounced very briefly and weakly, the lips make a movement, as if blowing out a candle.
A washwoman warms water on Wednesdays
To wash woolen wear from a wooden wardrobe.
Why does the washwoman warm water on Wednesdays
To wash the woolen wear from the wooden wardrobe?
We wear woolen wear in winter,
While we wear waterproofs in wet weather.
Why do we wear woolen wear in winter,
While we wear waterproofs in wet weather?
A wide-awake warden walks weekly
Along the westward wall of a wax works.
Why does the wide-awake warden walks weekly
Along the westward wall of the wax works?
A white wizard works wonders with a wand,
While a wicked witch works wonders with words.
Why does the white wizard work wonders with the wand,
While the wicked witch works wonders with the words?
Whales want to wallow in warm waves,
While walruses want to wallow in white waves.
Why do the whales want to wallow in warm waves,
While the walruses want to wallow in white waves?
[ Λ ]
The short vowel sound [Λ] is pronounced tensely. Position of the tongue in the mouth, as in silence. The English sound [Λ] is similar to the Russian sound [a], pronounced in the first pre-stressed syllable after hard consonants in place of the Russian letters a and o, as for example in the words rock and bark. Compared to the Russian stressed sound [a], when pronouncing the English sound [Λ], the tongue is moved back and its back part is raised. Excessively moving the tongue back will lead to the formation of a sound close to the English sound [Λ], which will be a gross phonemic error, since these sounds often perform a semantic distinguishing function.
Sometimes for a Monday lunch
Someone cuts one onion and some cucumbers.
Sometimes for a Sunday lunch
Someone cuts one onion and some mushrooms.
A funny puppy runs in front of a pub,
A fluffy puppy runs in front of a club.
If the funny puppy didn’t run in front of the pub,
Would the fluffy puppy run in front of the club?
Uncle Douglas comes in pubs on Mondays,
Uncle Humphry comes in clubs on Sundays.
If Uncle Douglas didn't come in pubs on Mondays,
Would Uncle Humphry come in clubs on Sundays?
Sometimes in summer months lucky hunters
Hurry up to hunt monkeys in a sunny jungle.
But if the jungle wasn't sunny,
Would the lucky hunters hurry up to hunt monkeys?
Douglas’ son is younger than Humphry’s brother,
Humphry’s son is younger than Douglas’ brother.
If Douglas’ son wasn’t younger than Humphry’s brother,
Would Humphry’s son be younger than Douglas’ brother?
The sound [m] is pronounced like a weakened Russian sound [m].
Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [m] is not softened.
A mad maid mixed for a morning meal
Maize, milk, meat, mint, mash, merry,
Melon, mango, marrow, mutton and mustard.
May the mad maid's mister get a malady?
A marine map-maker must mark on maps
Much more moles, mulls and marinas.
A martial map-maker must mark on maps
Much more marshes, meadows and massives.
A merry miller mills millet at midday,
A morose miller mills millet at midnight.
If the merry miller didn't mill millet at midday,
Would the frost miller mill millet at midnight?
Mag's mum may make marmalade of mango,
Mat's mum may make marmalade of melon.
If Mag's mum may not make marmalade of mango,
May Mat’s mum make marmalade of melon?
A mighty mayor may miss a Monday meeting
To meet most of Military Ministry’s members.
If the mayor doesn’t meet the Military Minister’s members,
May he miss the Monday morning meeting?
The sound [z] is pronounced like a weakened Russian sound [z].
It differs from the Russian sound [з] in the same way as the English sound [s] differs from the Russian sound [s].
Before the vowel sounds [e], [i], , [ɜ:] and the consonant sound [j], the sound [z] is not softened.
A zealous musician visits Museum of Music
To examine an exhibit of the Beatles’ possessions.
If the exhibit didn’t possess the Beatles’ possessions,
Would his examinations be so pleasant?
The Brazilian president always uses his position
To puzzle his wise opposition by refusing
Hesitating pauses as easy as praising phrases
And surprising examples in his presentations.
An exacting blizzard in Wales on Tuesday
Caused freezing dozens thousand amazing roses.
Was rising prices on roses in Wales
A result of the exacting blizzard on Tuesday?
The season of tourism in zones of Amazon in Brazil
Is always closed with hazes, breezes and drizzles.
Was a disaster for the season of tourism
In the zones of Amazon a blizzard on Tuesday?
A Zulu zoologist visited Zurich zoo on Tuesday
To dozen examines noisy zebras, dozens lazy lizards
And dozens crazy chimpanzees from a desert on Zanzibar.
Was the Zulu zoologist exhausted as a result?
[ ə ]
The short neutral (formed by the tongue in a neutral position) vowel sound [ə] is pronounced without tension. Like the Russian language, the English language is characterized by strong qualitative reduction (weakened pronunciation of vowels in unstressed syllables). Thus, a sound close to the English [ə] can be found in the second prestressed and in two post-stressed syllables in Russian words in place of the vowels o, a and e after hard consonants, for example: gardener, for nothing, entirely. An error in the articulation of English [ə] arises due to a mixture of reduction paradigms in the English and Russian languages. The neutral vowel sound [ə] in English occurs mainly in the first prestressed and first post-stressed syllables. Native speakers of the Russian language often pronounce vowels in the first and second pre-stressed syllables and the second post-stressed syllable, which are close to Russian ones in terms of the degree of qualitative reduction. A common mistake is to pronounce Russian [e] instead of [ə] in the first pre-stressed syllable of English words. To eliminate this error, it is necessary not to move the tongue to the front of the mouth, keeping it in a neutral mid-position.
Canada is colder than Korea,
Korea is hotter than Canada.
If Canada wasn't colder than Korea,
Would Korea be hotter than Canada?
Amazon is longer than Volga,
Volga is shorter than Amazon.
If Amazon wasn't longer than Volga,
Would Volga be shorter than Amazon?
Everest is higher than Olympus,
Olympus is lower than Everest.
If Everest wasn't higher than Olympus,
Would Olympus be lower than Everest?
Debora's family is her father and mother,
Helena’s family is her sister and brother.
If Debora's family wasn't her father and mother,
Would Helena’s family be her sister and brother?
Jonathan addresses his letters to Nicholas,
Nicholas addresses his letters to Jonathan.
If Jonathan didn't address his letters to Nicholas,
Would Nicholas address his letters to Jonathan?
English tongue twisters are an effective way to improve pronunciation for both beginners and experienced students. They are difficult for Russian speakers not so much in diction, but in words, which are not in the Russian language or which are read differently in our country: [ŋ], , [r], , [ʤ], [ɜ:], [θ], [ɔ:], [ð], [ʊ].
How to work with tongue twisters
If you want to impress your friends with the perfect pronunciation of English tongue twisters, follow these ten steps to achieve true mastery:
- Select English tongue twister;
- English tongue twisters for practicing pronunciation on a piece of paper and read it five times to yourself;
- Then read it out loud five times, only in a whisper;
- Read the tongue twister in a normal voice, also five times;
- Repeat this, only now without looking at the piece of paper;
- Now say each word separately five times;
- Speak every line(if there are several) tongue twisters five times;
- Repeat tongue twister five times pausing between each word;
- Close your eyes, concentrate, and clearly speak the tongue twister at a normal pace. If it doesn't work, repeat steps 3-7. If successful, go to the last step;
- Check yourself and repeat the tongue twister five times at a fast pace.
English tongue twisters
For each sound there are corresponding English tongue twisters that will help train your pronunciation to automaticity. Do not pay attention to the meaninglessness of some tongue twisters - they were compiled solely for speech training, so sometimes the content is lame.
Sound [θ], the pronunciation of which causes the most difficulties for Russian speakers. It is reproduced by the combination of letters th. Train him with these English tongue twisters:
[ð] , also transmitted by the combination th. English tongue twisters to practice:
Free lesson on the topic:
Irregular English verbs: table, rules and examples
Discuss this topic with a personal teacher in a free online lesson at Skyeng school
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[ŋ] , expressed in English by the letter n preceding other consonants. Tongue twisters in English with translation for practice:
, transmitted by the letter a. Unlike Russian a, it is pronounced drawlingly, as if you are showing your throat to a doctor. Practice these English tongue twisters with Russian translation:
[r], conveyed by the letter r, is very different in pronunciation from the usual Russian r. A few English tongue twisters for practice:
is formed using a double e or a combination of ea. Several good versions of English tongue twisters with translation for practice
[ʤ] formed by the letters j or g. English tongue twisters for sound training:
[ʧ] is formed by the letter combination ch. Try saying the following tongue twisters in English:
[ɜ:] , expressed by the letters e, i, u or the combination ea. This sound can be dealt with using the following English tongue twisters:
[ɔ:] formed by combinations of au, ou or the letters o and a. Pay attention to these tongue twisters for practice:
[ʊ] , expressed in English with a single or double letter o. Several tongue twisters in English with translation for sound practice:
Video about English tongue twisters:
As you know, Karl stole corals from Clara, and Karl stole Clara’s clarinet. But not all happiness lies in the clarinet. Happiness lies in correctly delivered diction, as well as a British-American accent, which we will have to develop today with the help of numerous tongue twisters.
So, the first tongue twister appeared many years ago. The goal was to develop correct diction and articulation as quickly as possible using a simple rhyming phrase. This is how the first tongue twisters began to appear. It is interesting that many “pure tongues” have their own history and did not appear by chance.
Tongue twisters are needed in order to speak as clearly as possible, and if you are a public speaker, then your life is one big rehearsal and not a single chance to miss. At the same time, people learning English often hear the phrase: “You shouldn’t worry about pronunciation, you should worry about your own silence.” We can partly agree with this. Yes, only partly. You won’t envy those who know the rules and are silent, afraid of saying the wrong word or forgetting to put the article.
However, it is thanks to our pronunciation that foreigners understand where we come from. This can be seen in this great video by a guy who showed us what 67 English accents look like. And, believe me, this is something that will make you wildly delighted, because these are exactly the accents that those who have at least once visited Scotland, Ireland, Wales and many American states have to encounter.
It’s interesting that you need to practice not only the pronunciation of tongue twisters, but any pronunciation in general in front of a mirror. English speech is different from Russian. If in our native language we can speak less abruptly, then in English we have to use all the strength and power of intonation in order to show that we are aware of how to express ourselves correctly. Imagine that you need to intonate as if you want to show a wavy line with your voice. Introduced? Now try to put emphasis on semantic words (most often these are nouns and verbs, less often - all other parts of speech, depending on the situation and the sentence itself). At the same time, do not forget about sounds: do not confuse “Ө” and “ð”, do not growl, pronounce “p”, “t” and “d” in a special way (I’m sure you know how to do this), and, of course, At the same time, do not forget to smile widely. It turns out? Great!
The most famous and at the same time quite complex tongue twister, with the help of which you can practice the sounds “ ʃ " And " s» , are as follows:
She sells sea shells on the sea shore;
The shells that she sells are sea shells I’m sure.
So if she sells sea shellson the sea shore,
I'm sure that the shells are sea shore shells.
Let us immediately note that there is no need to think about the meaning. You can, of course, try to translate this set of words, from which you will learn that she sells sea shells on the coast, and these are 100% sea shells, and then you can stop, because... the remaining words are simply put together in a rather complex combination, which is difficult to repeat at the initial stage.
Another short but really difficult one is
Sally is a sheet slitter, she slits sheets.
For those who want to reach maximum heights, we recommend trying to pronounce the tongue twister below:
Sally sells sea shells by the shiny sea shore,
so she can see the shimmering silver ships
In sunny summersshe strolls along the sea shore
Shoelessly splashing somersaults while she skips.
Pay attention to the translation of the following words:
Shimmering– flickering
Sunshine– sunny
Stroll- walk
Shoelessly– barefoot
Splashing– splashing
Somersaults– somersaults
Skip- jump, gallop
While you are training, let the whole world wait!
Show me a showered
and shampooed sheep
and I'll show you
a sheep in sharp shape
Tongue twisters with w, v, р
The following tongue twister is perfect for practicing the sounds “w” and “ð”:
Whether the weather is fine
or whether the weather is not.
Whether the weather is cold
or whether the weather is hot.
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather
Whether we like it or not.
Please note that the conjunction " whether" stands for "whether", " weather" - this is the weather, but " to weather" is a verb meaning "to endure", "to withstand".
William always wears a very warm woolen vest in winter? Viktor however never wears underwear even in the wild wild West
Tongue twisters in p, t, k
A tongue twister about Peter Piper will help you practice the sounds “r”, “t”, “k”:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
Verb " to pick" - gather, " peck" - a bunch, " pickled» – pickled
Do you think you can say it as quickly as in the video below?
Are you sure it was easy? Then look at this
Tongue twisters starting with t, d
A rather interesting tongue twister from the point of view of honing several sounds at once is the following:
What a to-do to die today, at a minute or two to two;
A thing distinctly hard to say, but harder still to do.
For they’ll beat a tattoo, at twenty to two
A rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tattoo
And a dragon will come when he hears the drum,
At a minute or two to two today, at a minute or two to two.
Tongue twisters in l, n
And finally, a few “ nursery rhymes"for those who didn't find them enough:
You've no need to light a night-light
On a light night like tonight,
For a night-light’s light’s a slight light,
And tonight’s a night that’s light.
When a night's light's like tonight's light,
I wouldn't really think it's quite right
To light night-lights with their slight lights
On a light night like tonight.
A night-light– night light
Slight– small, insignificant
Tongue twisters starting with b, t
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 o’ better butter
Will but make my batter better.”
Then she bought a bit o’ butter
Better than the bitter butter
Made her bitter batter better.
So 'twas better Betty Botter
Bought a bit o’ better butter.
Tongue twisters in r, l, s
If you stick a stock of liquor in your locker,
It's slick to stick a lock upon your stock,
Or some stickler who is slicker
Will stick you of your liquor
If you fail to lock your liquor
With a lock!
Seth at Sainsbury's sells thick socks.
Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry.
Tongue twisters that train different sounds
How many cans can a cannibal nibble if a cannibal can nibble cans?
As many cans as a cannibal can nibble if a cannibal can nibble c
ans.
Three gray geese in the
green grass grazing.
Gray were the geese and
green was the grass
If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews?
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Fresh fried fish, Fish fresh fried, Fried fish fresh, Fish fried fresh.
The tongue twister “ the sixth sick sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick». Here, even the translation itself is difficult to pronounce (the sixth sheep of the sixth sick sheikh is sick), not to mention the English version.
Interestingly, there are approximately 2,375 tongue twisters in 108 languages.