Tongue twisterTricky
Russian
RussianЕхал Грека через реку, видит Грека — в реке рак. (Yekhal Greka cherez reku, vidit Greka — v reke rak.)
Meaning: A rolling 'r/k' drill where Greka, reku and rak keep trading the same two consonants.
Literally: Greka was riding across the river; Greka sees a crayfish in the river.
Origin: One of the first twisters Russian children learn; the full version ends with the crayfish grabbing Greka's hand.
More Russian tongue twisters
- Четыре чёрненьких чумазеньких чертёнка чертили чёрными чернилами чертёж. (Chetyre chyornenkikh chumazenkikh chertyonka chertili chyornymi chernilami chertyozh.) Seven consecutive words built on 'ch' — Russian's ч in every stressed position with barel…
- На дворе трава, на траве дрова. (Na dvore trava, na trave drova.) A short but nasty 'tr/dr' blend — the consonant clusters that trip up every learner of Ru…
- Шла Саша по шоссе и сосала сушку. (Shla Sasha po shosse i sosala sushku.) A merciless 'sh/s/ss' collision — Sasha walking, sucking, and all those sibilants.
- Карл у Клары украл кораллы, Клара у Карла украла кларнет. (Karl u Klary ukral korally, Klara u Karla ukrala klarnet.) A 'kl/kr/r' drama — crime, countercrimes, and consonant clusters all at once.
- Корабли лавировали, лавировали, да не вылавировали. (Korabli lavirovali, lavirovali, da ne vylavirovali.) One verb, three inflections, pure 'lav/vir' torture — the word grows with every repetitio…
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Дорого яичко ко Христову дню (Dorogo yaichko ko Khristovu dnyu) Help or a gift is most valuable when it comes at the right time.
- Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют (Ne tak strashen chyort, kak ego malyuyut) Things are rarely as bad as they're made out to be.
- Не до жиру, быть бы живу (Ne do zhiru, byt' by zhivu) In hard times you settle for survival, not comfort.
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