Tongue twisterWarm-up
German
GermanZehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo.
Meaning: A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.
Literally: Ten tame goats pull ten hundredweight of sugar to the zoo.
Origin: A German classroom staple for the 'z' sound, which English speakers often soften.
More German tongue twisters
- 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…
- 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.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Eile mit Weile Do things carefully rather than rushing; haste slows you down.
- Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold Knowing when to keep quiet is worth more than speaking well.
- Steter Tropfen höhlt den Stein Small efforts, repeated often enough, achieve great things.
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