# What do you consider the most difficult tongue twister? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309 "2002-04-29T15:59:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/1 "2002-04-29T15:59:28Z")
Well, in English, I would say it is: “The sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.” (Try saying that even once quickly to see just how hard it is.) In German I would say it’s: “Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid.” Any suggestions in other languages? I speak fluent Portuguese, but my Brazilian wife hasn’t tought me any tongue twisters yet. (Why does that sound vaguely sexual?) ---
**Author:** ![Briminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@Briminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briminator)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/2 "2002-04-29T16:14:49Z")
Black bug’s blood ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/3 "2002-04-29T16:18:26Z")
When I was in college (back in the stone age) in speech class we had to read a poem. I don’t recall the whole thing but the first line (of about 60) was, Give me the gift of a grip top sock ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/4 "2002-04-29T16:57:28Z")
Toy Boat. x10 ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/5 "2002-04-29T18:15:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Toy Boat. x10 Yeah, I was going to say that one. I can’t say it more than three times without screwing up, unless I say it it _very_ slowly. But just the other day, for some reason I thought of it and gave it to my son: “I have a challenge for you. I bet you can’t say ‘toy boat’ five times fast.” Him: “toyboattoyboattoyboattoyboattoyboattoyboattoyboat…” He had no trouble with it at all.😕 ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/6 "2002-04-29T19:10:03Z")
[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8136/tonguetwisters.html](http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8136/tonguetwisters.html) “Give me the gift of a grip-top sock, A clip drape shipshape tip top sock. Not your spinslick slapstick slipshod stock, But a plastic, elastic grip-top sock. None of your fantastic slack swap slop From a slap dash flash cash haberdash shop. Not a knick knack knitlock knockneed knickerbocker sock With a mock-shot blob-mottled trick-ticker top clock. Not a supersheet seersucker ruck sack sock, Not a spot-speckled frog-freckled cheap sheik’s sock Off a hodge-podge moss-blotched scotch-botched block. Nothing slipshod dirp drop flip flop or glip glop Tip me to a tip top grip top sock.” From [http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/2203/warmups.html](http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/2203/warmups.html) Mine? “Quixote Quixite quizzed a queerish quizbox”. Just takes forEVER. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/7 "2002-04-29T21:20:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mycroft Holmes \* > \*\*Well, in English, I would say it is: > > “The sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.” > \*\* Actually, the twister is: **The Sixth Sick Sheik’s Sixth Sheep’s Sick** Think you had trouble with yours? Try that one - it’s the one I would use to warm up for my radio shows when I was a DJ. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![HerMajestyLorna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7cd45c/32.png) [@HerMajestyLorna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HerMajestyLorna)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/8 "2002-04-29T21:45:56Z")
Just from reading these few replies my mouth is all bloogly. [sub]Of course, that’s a word.[/sub] “Toy boat” comes out “toy boit” after the first couple. And that sixth sheik stuff…I can hardly say it once. ---
**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/9 "2002-04-29T21:53:28Z")
Biggest tongue twister of all… “I do” ---
**Author:** ![Xixox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/13edae/32.png) [@Xixox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xixox)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/10 "2002-04-30T00:02:07Z")
“Unique New York” Gets me every time… sometimes I can’t even get through the 1st one without saying 'Unique You Nork." ---
**Author:** ![Payne\_N.Diaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/11 "2002-04-30T06:11:46Z")
My daughter had one about “soldier’s shoulders”–I wish I could remember it, but it’s probably just as well I can’t… My wife said I never listen to her. At least I think that’s what she said. ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/12 "2002-04-30T06:25:05Z")
I like “Mrs. Smith’s fish sauce shop”. ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Earthworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dirty\_Earthworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Earthworm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/13 "2002-04-30T06:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xixox \* > \*\*“Unique New York” > > Gets me every time… sometimes I can’t even get through the 1st one without saying 'Unique You Nork." \*\* When I took theater class in high school, the teacher would have us warm up each day with tongue-twisters. “Unique New York” was one of them, as was “red leather yellow leather.” Now _that_ is a pain in the ass to say. -Dirty ---
**Author:** ![cheezit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@cheezit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheezit)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/14 "2002-04-30T07:02:46Z")
I can’t even say “Rubber baby buggy bumpers” slow, let alone fast. It always comes out something like “rubber baggy bubby gumpers”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/15 "2002-04-30T07:16:44Z")
the most pleasant mother pheasant plucker that ever plucked a mother pheasant ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/16 "2002-04-30T07:18:48Z")
My mum’s favourites were: “good blood, bad blood” “red lorry, yellow lorry” “chew chew chew 'till your jaws drop off” “she sells sea shells by the sea shore” And the one that earned me a clip over the ears when I came home with it at about the age of 10: “I am not the pheasant plucker, I’m the pheasant plucker’s mate, and I’m only plucking pheasants 'cos the pheasant plucker’s late” ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/17 "2002-04-30T07:53:22Z")
I can’t blab such blibber blubber! My tongue isn’t made of rubber! Seriously my tongue is slooooooowwwww. I can’t even say that sixth sheik one slowly. I have to stop after every word. And that’s why I’m not a rapper. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/18 "2002-04-30T09:46:06Z")
Red leather yellow leather red leather yellow leather red leather yellow leather. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/19 "2002-04-30T10:28:52Z")
Not particularly hard, but still… How many simple shots could Shaq sink if Shaq could sink simple shots? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309/20 "2002-04-30T11:52:40Z")
I’ve read _Fox in Socks_ too, Osiris. 🙂 _NOW is your tongue numb?_ 😃 _Games_ Magazine once ran a tongue-twister contest, inviting readers to compete for the grand prize: their tongue-twister engraved on a silver tray. The entries included: **Cinnamon Synonym Ripe white wheat reapers reap white wheat right!** and\*\* Brock Blake’s black bike’s back brake bracket block broke! \*\* But the grand prize winner was: **Shep Schwab shopped at Scott’s Schnapps Shop; One shot of Scott’s Schnapps stopped Schwab’s watch.** A reader later wrote in with another tongue-twister by Dr. Seuss (from _Oh Say, Can You Say?:_ **If you like to eat potato chips And chew pork chops on clipper ships I suggest that you chew A few chips and a chop At Skipper Zipp’s Clipper Ship Chip Chop shop.** As for tongue twisters in other languages, the first _Book of Lists_ included one from the African language Xhosa: **Iqaqa laziqikaqika kwaze kwaqhawaka uqhoqhoqha** meaning, “The skunk rolled down and ruptured its larynx.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-the-most-difficult-tongue-twister/106309.md?page=2)