The 14 toughest tongue-twisters in the English language (2024)

• The English language is full of sayings that can get anyone's tongue twisted up.
• Reader's Digest compiled a list of 14 sayings that feel impossible to pronounce eloquently.
• It includes: "Pad kid poured curd pulled cod," and, 'The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick."

1. 'Pad kid poured curd pulled cod.'

A team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology say that this is the most difficult tongue twisterin the world.Can you say it ten times fast? The psychologists who created this tongue twister said that people who attempted to say it either stopped right in the middle of saying it because it was too difficult or could only get through it once and weren't able to repeat it. If you couldn't get this one, give the others a try.

2. 'Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons—balancing them badly.'

This tongue twister is a lot longer, so it's not much easier. You'll really have to learn to balance your tongue on your teeth correctly to get this one.

3. 'If you must cross a course cross cow across a crowded cow crossing, cross the cross coarse cow across the crowded cow crossing carefully.'

You probably don't want to stand in the way of a course cross cow. But, if you try to teach him this tongue twister, he may get distracted from his anger and not hurt you. (If aword is on the tip of your tongue,this is exactly what you need to do to figure out what it is.)

4. 'How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?'

Trying to get a clam into a can may be easier than saying this tongue twister ten times fast.

5. 'Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager managing an imaginary menagerie.'

We'd be happy to imagine an imaginary menagerie because keeping animals in captivity isn't very nice.

6. 'Send toast to ten tense stout saints' ten tall tents.'

If these saints are tense and stout, you're going to want to send a lot of toast. (These are themost difficult to pronounce towns in every single state.)

7. 'Rory the warrior and Roger the worrier were reared wrongly in a rural brewery.'

After being at the brewery, Rory and Roger probably wouldn't be able to say this tongue twister.

8. 'Six sick hicks nick six slick bricks with picks and sticks.'

Get your "s" and "k" sounds ready, this one is really tricky.

9. 'I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.'

There are a lot of wishes going on here, which makes this tongue twister tough to tackle!

10. 'The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.'

This sentence makes a little more sense than the last one. But can you say it really fast?

11. 'The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.'

Is your tongue tired yet? If you want to give your mouth a rest, try exercising your eyes tofind the differences in these ten pictures.

12. 'Can you can a canned can into an un-canned can like a canner can can a canned can into an un-canned can?'

Wasn't cramming a clam into a can hard enough?

13. 'Thirty-three thirsty, thundering thoroughbreds thumped Mr. Thurber on Thursday.'

Just be glad that you only have to say this tongue twister ten times fast and you're not Mr. Thurber.

14. 'Six sleek swans swam swiftly southwards.'

Once you get the hang of this one, you can say it a few times in a row without stumbling. (Try finding the15 hidden objects in this picture.)

[Sources:usatoday.com,littlethings.com]