50 Fun Tongue Twisters for Kids
Tongue twisters tangle tongues tirelessly. Say that five times fast! Then read on for 50 tongue twisters for kids.
What Is a Tongue Twister
A tongue twister is a group of words (often a sentence) that is difficult to pronounce because of the repetition of similar sounds.
In the classic tongue twister, “Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore,” you have the repetition of the /s/ sound.
When Is International Tongue Twister Contest Day?
February 27th is International Tongue Twister Contest Day.
To mark this day, try some of these activities.
Hold a Contest
Time students to see who can say the tongue twister five or ten times the fastest (without mistakes).
Create Original Tongue Twisters
Task students with creating their own original tongue twisters.
Language Learning
Teachers can use tongue twisters to help students in pronunciation, diction, and fluency. (Just don’t tell them it’s educational!)
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Why Tongue Twisters are Beneficial
Tongue twisters are beneficial for several reasons.
Impromptu Entertainment
Everyone loves tongue twisters. It’s fun to stumble over the words and laugh at yourself.
Tongue twisters are ready-to-go entertainment.
You can say tongue twisters to amuse yourself or your kids in times of waiting: in the car, at a restaurant, in the doctor’s office, in line…anywhere!
A Lesson in Literary Devices
Did you know that tongue twisters for kids have educational value?
Tongue twisters are usually an example of alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds in close proximity (e.g., “Tell Tim a tongue twister.”)
Alliteration is a literary device writers can use to improve the quality of their writing.
Brain Break
Tongue twisters for kids have another educational application. They are the perfect brain break activity.
As a break between subjects or periods of concentration, you can take a few minutes to stumble through some tongue twisters together.
It can also be a fun stress reliever during test prep.
Vocal Warm-Up
Tongue twisters help warm up the muscles of the tongue and lips.
Saying tongue twisters before singing, acting, or public speaking can help students avoid tripping over words in their delivery.
Morning Routine Component or Lesson Opener
Start your day with a smile by adding a tongue twister to your classroom or homeschool morning routine.
Are you ready for some tongue twisters for kids? Let’s go!
Short and Simple Tongue Twisters
These short and simple tongue twisters for kids. Some of these are classics!
1. Red leather, yellow leather.
2. She sells seashells by the seashore.
3. Three free throws.
4. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
5. A big black bug bit a big black bear.
6. Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat.
7. Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep.
8. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
9. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
10. Betty Botter bought some butter.
Animal-Themed Tongue Twisters
You can use these tongue twisters as a fun science lesson opener.
1. Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.
2. Three free fleas flew.
3. Black bats bake black bread.
4. Busy buzzing bees buzzed brightly.
5. The skunk sat on a sunken stump.
Food-Themed Tongue Twisters
1. Fresh fried fish, fish fresh fried.
2. Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?
3. Six sticky sucker sticks.
4. Green grapes grow great.
5. Four fat fish fried in five fat frying pans.
Rhyming Tongue Twisters
1. Double bubble gum bubbles double.
2. He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
3. If two witches were watching two watches, which witch would watch which watch?
4. Susie’s sister sews shirts for older soldiers.
5. A tutor who tooted the flute tried to tutor two tooters to toot.
Nature Tongue Twisters
1. The sun shines on the shop signs.
2. Friendly fleas and fluttering flies float freely.
3. Lofty leaves linger lightly on long lichen-covered limbs.
4. Wild winds whip wildly through whispering willows.
5. Chirping crickets creep cautiously through the crunchy countryside.
Quirky Tongue Twisters
1. Eleven elves licked eleven little licorice lollipops.
2. A proper copper coffee pot.
3. Lazy lizards like leaping lollipops.
4. Seven sneaky snakes snuck silently.
5. Funny frogs flip five fluffy flannels.
Challenging Tongue Twisters for Older Students
1. The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.
2. Pad kid poured curd pulled cod. (This doesn’t look like much, but it is considered one of the hardest tongue twisters to say fast.)
3. She sees cheese, but does she seize the cheese she sees?
4. Six sleek swans swam swiftly southwards while seven shivering sharks silently surfaced.
5. The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.
Just Plain Fun!
1. Truly rural, truly rural, truly rural.
2. The big bug bit the little beetle.
3. Four furious friends fought for the phone.
4. Pink paper planes fly pretty perfectly.
5. Happy hippos hop heavily on Halloween.
6. Snakes sneakily snack on soft, sticky sweets.
7. Thin sticks, thin bricks.
8. Two toads totally trotted toward town.
9. Tiny turtles tiptoe timidly to the tide.
10. Lovely lemons leap lightly in the lake.
50 Tongue Twisters for Kids to Try
These tongue twisters will delight kids on more than just International Tongue Twister Contest Day on February 27th.
If you need a smile, try tongue twister like this one:
“Smiling Sam swiftly slipped on a slimy slide but still smiled.”
