Hinter Hermann Hannes Haus hängen hundert Hemden raus.

Meaning: A relentless 'h' aspirate drill — every word opens with the same breathy attack.

Literally: Behind Hermann Hannes's house hang a hundred shirts.

Origin: A popular German 'h' warm-up that trips non-native speakers at normal speed.

More German tongue twisters

Fischers Fritz fischt frische Fische, frische Fische fischt Fischers Fritz. The German 'f' / 'sch' staple.
Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid. A 'bl' / 'br' brain-twister.
Zehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo. A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.
Wenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach. Fliegen means 'flies' (insects), 'to fly', and 'flying' — all at once, relentlessly.
Der Cottbuser Postkutscher putzt den Cottbuser Postkutschkasten. A jaw-breaking compound-noun 'ts/tsch/sch' marathon — the German love of compound words w…

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

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