O peito do pé de Pedro é preto.

Meaning: Five 'p' words in a row, with the vowels shifting underneath each one.

Literally: The top of Pedro's foot is black.

Origin: A short Portuguese classic, usually the first twister taught to children.

More Portuguese tongue twisters

A aranha arranha a rã. A rã arranha a aranha. Contrasts the soft single r of aranha against the hard rolled rr of arranha — one letter…
O rato roeu a roupa do rei de Roma; a rainha com raiva roeu o resto. An unstoppable 'r' trill drill — every key word begins or ends with the Portuguese r.
Um tigre, dois tigres, três tigres tristes triscam trigo num trigal. A 'tr' cluster drill that adds a sad adjective to make the alliteration worse.
O papa papava o papo do pipo; o pipo papava o papo do papa. A perfectly palindromic 'p' construction that reverses meaning when you swap the nouns.

Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.

Casa roubada, trancas à porta People take precautions only after the damage is done.
Filho de peixe sabe nadar Children inherit their parents' skills.
Quem semeia ventos colhe tempestades Those who cause trouble will face far worse in return.

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