Tongue twisterTricky
German
GermanWenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach.
Meaning: Fliegen means 'flies' (insects), 'to fly', and 'flying' — all at once, relentlessly.
Literally: When flies fly behind flies, flies fly after flies.
Origin: A classic German word-class twister exploiting the noun/verb homograph.
More German tongue twisters
- Hinter Hermann Hannes Haus hängen hundert Hemden raus. A relentless 'h' aspirate drill — every word opens with the same breathy attack.
- 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.
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- Den Löffel abgeben To die.
- Ins Fettnäpfchen treten To commit an embarrassing social blunder.
- Eulen nach Athen tragen To do something utterly pointless.
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