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50 Tongue Twisters for Kids: Easy, Tricky and Hard
Try 50 tongue twisters for kids in three levels, with sound cues, short playing tips and family games that keep the giggles going.
Which tongue twisters should you start with?
Easy tongue twisters for kids include 'Muddy puppy', 'Bubble bobble' and 'Pink pig, big pig'. Say a phrase slowly together, then repeat it a little faster if your child wants to. These 50 tongue twisters come in three levels, with a sound to listen for and a small challenge beside each one.
You don't need any kit or a child who can read. For ages 3 to 8, choose by interest rather than treating the levels as age targets. Read a line aloud and let your child join in, or just listen. The National Literacy Trust recommends slowing down and saying each word clearly when a tongue twister feels difficult. The sound labels describe what's in the words, not sounds your child ought to have mastered. Start anywhere; there's no need to finish the list.
Which short tongue twisters are easiest to try?
Level 1 uses short phrases, so there's less to remember before you have another go. Repeat the whole phrase, leaving a little gap between turns. The list mixes familiar favourites with silly lines written for this page. Pick whichever words appeal to your child.
1. Muddy puppy
Sounds: d and p. Say the words separately, then join them. Give the puppy an extra muddy turn.
2. Bouncy bunny
Sounds: b and n. Say it in a slow rhythm, then let your child choose the next pace.
3. Bubble bobble
Sounds: b and l. Leave a gap between the words, then repeat the pair without the gap.
4. Tiny tin
Sounds: t and n. Tap a knee for each word. Keep the same beat as you repeat.
5. Panda's pancakes
Sounds: p. Say it as though you're announcing breakfast. Let your child announce the next plate.
6. Ducks dig
Sounds: d and g. Take a word each, then swap. Finish by saying the whole phrase together.
7. Mum's muddy mug
Sounds: m and g. Pause after each word first. Then imagine telling Mum the mug needs washing.
8. Busy buzzy bees
Sounds: b and z. Stretch out 'buzzy', then say the whole phrase in your ordinary speaking voice.
9. Wobbly wallaby
Sounds: w and l. Say 'wallaby' on its own first. Add 'wobbly' when you fancy another turn.
10. Peach pie, pea pie
Sounds: p and ch. Pause at the comma. Pretend you're offering a choice of pies.
11. Pink pig, big pig
Sounds: p and b. Point left for the pink pig and right for the big pig.
12. Tall tower, toy tower
Sounds: t. Say each half separately, then join them. Decide which tower you'd rather build.
13. Cat cap, cat cup
Sounds: k and p. Take turns saying each half, then swap halves without changing the order.
14. Nana's new noodles
Sounds: n. Say it like a restaurant announcement. Let your child invent the announcer's voice.
15. Goose goes, goat goes
Sounds: g. Take the goose part while your child takes the goat part, then swap.
16. Dotty dog, dodgy dog
Sounds: d and j. Say each dog description slowly before putting them into the same sentence.
17. Funny furry fox
Sounds: f and r. Pause before 'furry', then try saying the whole phrase in one smooth turn.
18. Kitty's cosy coat
Sounds: k. Say it quietly, then in your normal voice. Let your child choose which next.
19. Pip pops peas
Sounds: p. Tap for each word, then say it again while keeping the same gentle rhythm.
20. Blue boots, blue boats
Sounds: b and l. Imagine pointing to the boots, then the boats. Keep the two halves separate.
Which tongue twisters add a trickier sentence?
Level 2 adds longer lines and more changes between sounds. You'll find familiar examples from the British Council's pronunciation activities alongside imaginary animals with unlikely shopping lists. Split a sentence where the tip suggests, then join it together when your child wants another go.
21. Red lorry, yellow lorry
Sounds: r and l. Take a colour each, then swap. Try the whole line together afterwards.
22. She sells seashells on the seashore
Sounds: s and sh. Pause after 'seashells' before adding the rest of the line.
23. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Sounds: p. Say it in chunks, pausing after 'Piper' and again after 'peck'.
24. A proper copper coffee pot
Sounds: k and p. Build backwards: start with 'pot', then add the word before it.
25. Around the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran
Sounds: r and g. Pause after 'rocks', then let your partner finish the line.
26. The sleepy sheep shops for shiny shoes
Sounds: s and sh. Imagine the sheep choosing shoes; say the sentence in two halves.
27. A cheeky chick chose cheesy chips
Sounds: ch. Pause after 'chick', then announce its lunch. Swap who says each half.
28. Five fat frogs found fluffy feathers
Sounds: f and fr. Say the frog part first, then add what they found.
29. Ten tiny toes tap tin trays
Sounds: t and tr. Tap a knee on 'tap', then carry on with the sentence.
30. Little llamas like lemon lollies
Sounds: l. Leave a gap after 'llamas'. Ask your child to finish the imaginary order.
31. A brave bear brings brown bread
Sounds: b and br. Say it as a doorstep announcement, then hand over the imaginary loaf.
32. Silly seals sit on soggy socks
Sounds: s. Pause after 'seals', then finish. Decide who'll do the imaginary washing afterwards.
33. Green ghosts gobble gooey grapes
Sounds: g and gr. Try saying it in a ghost voice, then in your ordinary voice.
34. A wet whale wears woolly wellies
Sounds: w. Say the whale's description, pause, then tell your partner what it's wearing.
35. Dancing ducks dodge dusty doughnuts
Sounds: d. Say the whole line slowly. Let your child choose whether to speed it up.
36. Nell's noisy neighbours need new napkins
Sounds: n. Pause after 'neighbours', then finish the request. Swap who starts the sentence.
37. Round rabbits roll red rubber rings
Sounds: r. Say it while drawing imaginary circles in the air, then try without the circles.
38. Quick quacking ducks queue quite quietly
Sounds: kw, as in quick. Pause after 'ducks', then add the quieter half of the sentence.
39. A sleepy slug slides past slimy slippers
Sounds: sl. Pause after 'slides', then finish. Imagine the slug's route across the floor.
40. Jolly jellyfish juggle giant jelly jars
Sounds: j. Give each word its own beat before trying the sentence as a whole.
Which hard tongue twisters can challenge the grown-ups?
Level 3 packs words with several consonants together, such as 'strict' and 'scratched'. Take turns with your child rather than making them tackle the whole lot. Stay slow, split the sentences into chunks, and let the grown-ups take any line nobody else fancies.
41. Three free frogs throw three free frisbees
Sounds: th, f and fr. Separate the frog phrase from the frisbee phrase before joining them.
42. Six slick seals slip past six sleek slugs
Sounds: s and sl. Give the seals and slugs separate turns, then join both halves.
43. Crisp crusts crack as crackers crumble
Sounds: kr and k. Pause after 'crack', then add the crackers. Keep this one slow initially.
44. Wet witches wash wristwatches while white whales watch
Sounds: w and ch. Pause after 'wristwatches'; invite your partner to finish the sentence.
45. Three thin thieves threw thick thread through thistles
Sounds: th and thr. Pause after 'threw', then tackle the thread and thistles separately.
46. A strict striped squirrel scrambles across scratched screens
Sounds: str and skr. Say the squirrel's description first, then add what it's doing.
47. Shrimps share shiny shells while shy sheep share shoes
Sounds: shr and sh. Give the shrimps and sheep separate turns before joining the sentence.
48. Clumsy crabs cram crunchy crackers into cracked cream cartons
Sounds: kl and kr. Pause after 'crackers', then tackle where the crabs put them.
49. Red ribbons ripple round little yellow lorries
Sounds: r and l. Pause after 'round', then add the lorries. Try each half before repeating.
50. Six swift swans swam south while seven slow swans slept
Sounds: sw and sl. Pause at 'while', then swap who says each half.
What if your child doesn't want to say them?
Let them be the chooser, the listener or the person who calls 'again'. They can pick a favourite animal while you tackle the words. If they'd rather hear you get tangled up than perform themselves, give them that job. There's no compulsory turn.
If a sound is still tricky, keep this playful. Children and Family Health Devon's NHS guidance advises modelling words clearly rather than pointing out mistakes or asking a child with speech difficulties to repeat them.
If you're worried about your child's speech or language, speak to your GP or health visitor. For a different kind of game, our listening activities for home and nursery give you other ways to take turns.
How can you turn a few lines into a family game?
Pick a short phrase and a longer sentence, then choose a game below. Aim for about two minutes to begin with, ending sooner if everyone's finished. Choose familiar words for the first turn, then let your child decide whether the next round happens.
- Faster each round: use 'Pip pops peas' and the frog sentence at number 28. Start slowly together, then try a slightly quicker round if everyone wants one. Drop back to slow whenever you like.
- Whisper round: choose the bee phrase at number 8 and the whale sentence at number 34. Say each in your normal voice, then whisper it. The next person chooses the voice.
- Pass the sentence: choose the lorries at number 21 and the swans at number 50. Say half each, then swap parts. Finish with a favourite line said together.
For a longer evening, add another activity from our family game night ideas.
When you're ready to swap wordplay for yoga, choose a mat for your next animal pose game. Each has 15 numbered poses laser-engraved into the surface.
Frequently asked questions
What are five easy tongue twisters for kids?
Try 'Muddy puppy', 'Bubble bobble', 'Tiny tin', 'Pink pig, big pig' and 'Pip pops peas'. Read a phrase aloud, leave a pause, then invite your child to join in. There's no need to make them faster: taking turns in a silly voice is a game too.
What is the hardest tongue twister for kids?
For a tough challenge from this list, try 'A strict striped squirrel scrambles across scratched screens'. Start with the squirrel's description, then add the rest. Let your child decide whether to repeat it or choose something else. The hard level is there for anyone who enjoys the challenge, including grown-ups.
Can children try tongue twisters before they can read?
Yes. Read the line aloud yourself and invite your child to join in with a word, a short chunk or the whole phrase. You can also take turns finishing each other's sentences. Leave the text with the grown-up; there's no need to turn a spoken game into a reading task.
How do you make up a tongue twister with your child?
Choose a sound, then think of an animal, an action and an object containing it. Put them into a silly sentence and say it aloud together. Change any word that makes the sentence awkward in an unfunny way. Your child can supply the ideas while you do the writing.
