45 Tongue Twisters to Improve Your English Pronunciation

Learning English involves more than just grammar rules and vocabulary lists. It also requires training your mouth and ears together. That’s where tongue twisters can come in! Tongue twisters challenge your pronunciation, improve fluency, and boost your confidence—especially when practiced daily.

In this blog, 45 Tongue Twisters to Improve Your English Pronunciation, you’ll explore how fun, fast phrases build stronger speaking skills.

Ready to twist your tongue and train your accent? Let’s get started!

What Are Tongue Twisters?

Tongue twisters are phrases or sentences that are tricky to say because they repeat similar sounds. They’re meant to be spoken quickly and clearly—without stumbling or getting tongue-tied. That challenge is what makes them fun.

While the meaning of tongue twisters isn’t the focus, they are powerful tools for practicing difficult sounds through repetition. They’re not just helpful for ESL learners. Actors, TV presenters, and public speakers also use them to warm up before performing or speaking.

How Tongue Twisters Help Improve Pronunciation

Practicing tongue twisters regularly can sharpen your articulation, improve speech clarity, and strengthen muscle memory in your mouth and jaw.

• Sound Focus: They highlight tough English sounds, so you can focus on and fix your weak areas.
• Stronger Speaking Muscles: Your mouth and tongue get stronger with repetition, helping you speak more clearly and naturally.
• Better Muscle Memory: With practice, your brain remembers how to form the sounds, so speaking becomes smoother and faster.
• Clearer Pronunciation: Focusing on each word trains you to avoid mistakes and speak with better accuracy.

45 Tongue Twisters by Level

We’ve put together 45 tongue twisters by level to help you on your English journey. Begin slowly and focus on clear pronunciation. Then, increase your speed as your confidence grows. For an extra challenge, try repeating each tongue twister two or three times in a row—without getting tongue-tied!

Beginner-Friendly Tongue Twisters

1. She sells seashells by the seashore.
2. Red lorry, yellow lorry.
3. A big black bug bit a big black bear.
4. Green glass globes glow greenly.
5. Eleven benevolent elephants.
6. Four fine fresh fish for you.
7. Thin sticks, thick bricks.
8. Two tiny tigers take two taxis to town.
9. Blue bluebird blinks brightly.
10. Fresh fried fish, fish fresh fried.
11. Big brown bears baked blueberry bread.
12. Lazy lizards lying like lumps.
13. Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.
14. Six sticky skeletons.
15. Sam’s shop stocks short spotted socks.

Tip: To improve clarity, focus on how each word ends and maintain a steady rhythm as you speak.

Intermediate Tongue Twisters

1. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
2. If two witches would watch two watches, which witch would watch which watch?
3. A proper copper coffee pot.
4. Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter’s bitter.
5. Swan swam over the sea, swim, swan, swim.
6. Double bubble gum, bubbles double.
7. Cooks cook cupcakes quickly.
8. He threw three free throws.
9. Rolling red wagons race rapidly.
10. A happy hippo hopped and hiccupped.
11. Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks.
12. Six sleek swans swam swiftly southwards.
13. Crisp crusts crackle crunchily.
14. The blue bluebird blinks brightly in the breeze.
15. Big blue buses bounce briskly.

Tip: For better clarity, pay close attention to word endings and speak with a steady, natural rhythm throughout.

Advanced Tongue Twisters

1. The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.
2. Pad kid poured curd pulled cod.
3. Fred fed Ted bread and Ted fed Fred bread.
4. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
5. The great Greek grape growers grow great Greek grapes.
6. Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?
7. A black-backed bat sat on a black-backed branch.
8. Red bulb blue bulb red bulb blue bulb.
9. Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.
10. Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.
11. The big bug bit the little beetle, but the little beetle bit the big bug back.
12. Thin sticks, thick bricks, thick sticks, thin bricks.
13. Cows graze in groves on grass which grows in grooves in groves.
14. Rory’s lawn rake rarely rakes really right.
15. Ed had edited it.

Tip: For best results, practice daily using a mirror or voice recording. This helps boost speed, clarity, and confidence.

Tongue twisters aren’t just a warm-up—they’re a smart way to boost your pronunciation and speak with more confidence. So don’t stop here! Keep practicing, challenge yourself, and take the next step toward fluency.

Ready to truly master your English? Join OHLA Schools, a top U.S. English academy with 25+ years of experience. 

Learn more about our programs at www.ohla.com and get in touch with one of our many Student Advisors who will help you every step of the way.

Want to read more? Check out Boost Your English Skills: Top Books Every ESL Student Should Read.