Tongue twisterTricky
French
FrenchSeize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches.
Meaning: A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
Literally: Sixteen dry chairs on sixteen dry arches.
Origin: A French 's/ch' mixing drill widely used in diction classes.
More French tongue twisters
- Didon dîna, dit-on, du dos d'un dodu dindon dont le dodu dos dodine. A 'd' / 'din' / 'dod' avalanche that seems designed to jam the tongue in third gear.
- Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien. The classic French 'ch' / 's' tangler.
- Les chaussettes de l'archiduchesse sont-elles sèches, archi-sèches? A merciless duel between 'ch' and 's'.
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. An 's' / 'si' minefield.
- Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Joli comme un cœur Utterly charming or adorable.
- Tu as un cœur d'or You are genuinely kind and generous.
- Tu déchires You're awesome — you totally rock.
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