Tongue twisters are always fun to say. But, in reality, they are no of the best way to learn pronunciation. They allow you to learn how certain words (normally difficult words) are pronounced. You can learn English online by following these interesting English tongue twisters. These tongue twisters will help you master the English language.
Many tongue twisters in English do not make complete sense. But, they are filled with great sounds. They hold a very important English pronunciation lesson for the ones learning English. They have some very interesting yet meaningful vocabulary lessons for the learners.
Below we will explore, some of the common and interesting English tongue twisters but before that, we need to clarify how you can practice English pronunciation using these tongue twisters.
Practicing English pronunciation with tongue twisters
Repeat them again and again
Repetition is very necessary for practicing tongue twisters. If you only say a tongue twister once, you can’t expect it to improve your English speaking skills. These amusing little phrases can be used specifically to improve your pronunciation, so it is unlikely that you will get everything right the first time. Furthermore, the more you repeat the sounds in these tongue twisters, the easier it will be for you to remember them.
Forget speed and focus on articulation
Many people consider tongue twisters to be a race. In other words, they want to see how quickly they can repeat them. This is fine if you are just having fun, but if you are trying to learn English sounds, you should forget about speed and concentrate on articulation.
This involves paying close attention to how your mouth moves and trying to ensure that you utter every single sound in each word, even if you have to go slowly at first.
Consider tongue twisters as a warm-up exercise
Initially, tongue twisters were used by public speakers and actors as a warm-up exercise. This is because tongue twisters prepare your mouth for clear and correct speech. Warm up your mouth muscles and vocal cords by practicing key sounds. I recommend using this method before giving an English presentation or participating in a practice conversation.
Identify your weak points
All the tongue twisters are great pronunciation exercises. They help you realize the English words and their pronunciation that seem difficult to you. You can write the words that need extra attention and practice on your part.
To do so, you can seek professional training from italki. italki has some of the best online English tutors that will make you learn English pronunciation effortlessly by designing lesson plans according to your learning requirements. They will help you improve your American English accent so that you can hold any English conversation without making any mistakes. Identify your goals for learning English and get your hands in italki to seek professional training from 7200+ English tutors.
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Book a trial lessonNow, we will move toward some of the tricky English tongue twisters that will help you improve your English pronunciation.
Dull Dark Dock
To sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock
In a pestilential prison with a life-long lock,
Awaiting the sensation of a short, sharp shock
From a cheap and chippy chopper with a big, black block.
This tongue twister is jam-packed with repeated sounds, including the consonants d, l, s, and b. You will also get to practice some more complicated sounds, such as sh in “short, sharp shock” and the ch in “cheap and chippy chopper.” English learners frequently pronounce these two sounds incorrectly.
If a Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck, he would, as much as he could,
And chuck as much wood as a woodchuck would
If a woodchuck could chuck wood.
In “woodchuck could chuck,” you get to practice the w sound as well as that tricky ch sound again. You will also have the opportunity to practice the vowel sounds in “could,” “wood,” and “would.” As you can see, different spelling combinations in English can produce this sound.
I Slit a Sheet
I slit a sheet, a sheet, I slit.
Upon a slitted sheet, I sit.
The sl syllable and the previously mentioned difficult sh sound, as in “sheet,” are taught in this tongue twister. You can also practice distinguishing between vowels that sound like ee as in “sheet” and I as in “sit” and “slit.”
Skunk on a Stump
A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk,
But the stump thunk the skunk stunk.
This particular tongue twister is highly beneficial to practice saying consonant clusters st and sk effortlessly.
Benevolent Elephants
Seventy-seven benevolent elephants.
This tongue twister is for anybody who is having trouble with the v sound.
Cheese Trees
Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.
While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew.
Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze.
Freezy trees made these trees’ cheese freeze.
That’s what made these three free fleas sneeze.
This one is particularly difficult, even for native speakers. You will obviously have the opportunity to practice the consonant clusters fl and fr, as well as the z sound. You can also use that tricky th sound in “these,” “three,” “that’s,” and “through.”
Furthermore, there are numerous opportunities to practice your ee sound in words like “fleas,” “freezy,” “cheese,” and “these.”
A Flea and a Fly
A flea and a fly flew up in a flue.
Said the flea, “Let us fly!”
Said the fly, “Let us flee!”
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
One of the most twisted consonant clusters is fl, which is why this English tongue twister is great for learners.
Cupcakes
Cooks cook cupcakes quickly.
This is a short and sweet tongue twister. It will assist you with the hard k sound in “cook,” as well as the kw sound in “quickly.”
Noisy Noise
Any noise annoys an oyster, but a noisy noise annoys an oyster most.
This sentence is ideal for students who need to apply the unusual English oy sound, such as in “noise annoys an oyster.”
Pad Kid Poured
Pad kid poured curd pulled cod.
This phrase allows you to practice the p and k sounds, which are both inhaled (followed by a puff of air) when used at the beginning of words. Put your hand in front of your mouth while saying the tongue twister to see if you can feel your breath when you make the p and k sounds. If you are making the right sounds, you should be able to feel it.
Sixth Sheep
Sixth sick Sheikh’s sixth sheep sick.
This tongue twister is difficult even for a native English speaker. This one is great for practicing the s sound, as well as the ks sound from “sixth,” sh from “sheep,” and th from “sixth.”
Tongue twisters for kids
These tongue twisters are all fun and games until you speed them up. Some of the most common English tongue twisters for kids are
1. Blue bluebird.
2. Four fine fresh fish for you.
3. Daddy Draws Doors.
4. Three free throws.
5. The big bug bit the little beetle.
6. Fresh fried fish.
7. The raging ram runs ’round rugged Ricky to hit Mickey.
8. Specific Pacific.
9. Tommy tossed his twelfth tooth when it turned two times.
10. Betty’s big bunny bobbled by the blueberry bush.
11. Six sticky skeletons.
12. Green glass globes glow greenly.
13. If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose?
14. Rubber baby buggy bumpers.
15. I scream, you scream,
16. We all scream for ice cream.
17. Bouncing bed bugs borrowed blankets.
18. Perspicacious Polly Perkins purchased Peter’s product
19. And peddled pickles to produce a pretty profit.
Conclusion
Do you want to take English tongue twisters to the next level where you can use them to learn the English language? Get enrolled with italki. italki’s learning sessions will help you enjoy your learning journey. For instance, you will learn about happy expressions that you can use in your daily conversations.
These tongue twisters are a great way to build your command of English pronunciation. These tricky words also give you the confidence to speak difficult words in front of people. Getting command over these tricky tongue twisters requires consistent practice. You need to practice them on a daily basis so that you can speed them up with the right pronunciation of the word. Fluency doesn’t come overnight. Keep practicing until you remember them properly.
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