Ready to challenge your pronunciation and have fun at the same time? Tongue twisters are folkloric expressions that test our tongue by combining similar sounds and words that are difficult to articulate. Beyond provoking laughter, these games play a crucial role in the development of language, diction, and phonological awareness, especially in children.

Part of the rich Brazilian cultural tradition, tongue twisters are passed down from generation to generation. They not only entertain but also enhance cognitive and social skills. Whether among friends, with family, or as an educational tool in schools, these linguistic challenges continue to captivate people of all ages.

In this post, we present a selection of 60 popular tongue twisters that will test your verbal agility and guarantee moments of fun. Get ready to "twist your tongue," laugh a lot, and maybe learn new verses to share. Shall we embark together on this fun journey through words?

Tongue Twisters: The Rat Gnawed the King of Rome's Clothes.
Tongue Twisters: The Rat Gnawed the King of Rome's Clothes.

  1. The Rat GnawedThe rat gnawed the clothes of the King of Rome,The rat gnawed the clothes of the King of Russia,The rat gnawed the clothes of the flounder.The rat kept on gnawing.And Rosa Rita RamalhoLaughed at the gnawing rat.The female rat gnawed the corkOf the queen's bottle.
  2. Three Sad TigersThree plates of wheat for three sad tigers.
  3. The Chick and the SinkUnder the sink there was a chick,When the chick chirps the sink drips,When the sink drips the chick chirps.
  4. The Silly NannyThe silly nanny drank the baby's milk.
  5. Peter Has a Black ChestPeter has a black chest.Black is Peter's chest.Whoever says Peter's chest isn't black,Has a chest blacker than Peter's chest.
  6. TimeTime asked time,How much time does time have,Time answered time,That it had no time,To see how much time,Time has.
  7. Don't Confuse!Don't confuse platypusWith otolaryngologist,Platypus with ornithologist,Ornithologist with otolaryngologist,Because platypus is platypus,Ornithologist is ornithologist,And otolaryngologist is otolaryngologist.
  8. The Portuguese PainterPaulo Pereira Pinto Peixoto,Poor Portuguese painter,Perfectly paintsDoors, walls and sinks,For a paltry price, boss.
  9. Hidden CatHidden catWith tail showingIs more hiddenThan hidden tailWith cat showing.
  10. The ThrushDid you know that the thrushKnew how to whistle?
  11. The Sweetest SweetThe sweet asked the sweet,Which sweet is sweeterThan sweet potato sweet?The sweet answered the sweet,That the sweetest sweetThan sweet potato sweetIs sweet potato sweet.
  12. Toad in the SackLook at the toad inside the sackThe sack with the toad insideThe toad making small talkAnd the talk letting out wind.
  13. MafagafosA nest of mafagafosWith seven little mafagafosWhoever un-mafagafizes themWill be a good un-mafagafizer.
  14. The Un-tilerThis house is tiled.Who will un-tile it?The un-tiler who un-tiles itWill be a good un-tiler!
  15. The Pope GluttonIf the pope ate breadIf the pope ate porridgeIf the pope ate everythingHe would be a glutton pope.
  16. The WeaverWeaver weaves the fabricIn seven silks of ZionThe silk has been wovenIn the weaver's fortune.
  17. The Chick and the CatBehind the sink there's a plateA chick and a catThe sink drips, the plate catchesThe chick chirps and the cat meows.
  18. Let Go of Auntie, Lizard!Let go of auntie, lizard!Lizard, let go of auntie!Only on the day your auntieCalls lizard little lizard!
  19. The Spider and the FrogIn the vase there was a spider and a frog.The frog scratches the spider.The spider scratches the frog.
  20. The Toad and the WindToad inside the sackThe sack with the toad insideThe toad making small talkAnd the talk letting out wind.
  21. Bong BalalaongBong, balalaong,Mister captain,Sword at the waist,Steed in hand.In Moorish landHis brother died,Boiled and roastedIn his cauldron.
  22. The Chick and the BarrelThe barrel drips.Drips the barrel,The chick chirps.Barrel drips.The moreThe chick chirpsMore the barrel drips.
  23. The Instep of Father Pedro's FatherThe instep of Father Pedro's father is black.
  24. One LemonOne lemon, two lemons, half a lemon.
  25. Dudu's FingerDudu's finger is hard.
  26. CobblestoneThey said that in my streetThere are cobblestones made of parallelograms.Six parallelograms make one cobblestone.A thousand cobblestones make one cobblestone-way.One cobblestone-way has a thousand parallelograms.So is a cobblestone-way a parallelogram-land?
  27. Who Buys the PacaWho buys the expensive paca, dearly for the paca will pay.
  28. Fluffy FarofaFarofa made with lots of fluffy flour makes ugly gossip.
  29. Chief Chaves's KeyChief Chaves's key is on the keychain.
  30. On Flat HillOn flat hill there's a flat girl,With a flat pan on the flat of her head.Flat girl, is this flat pan yours?
  31. Such ArmadilloSuch armadilloIs having a shake trickTrade trinket for trickeryWith the mischievous boaAnd the boa that doesn't floatAlways eyesSuch armadillo with its basketJust like a sideways paca.
  32. The Spotted CowThe spotted cow was wetted by another wet and spotted cow.
  33. While Bia Plays, Bianca FightsWhile Bia plays, Bianca fightsChief Chaves's Chevette key is on the keychain.When the retreat playsIn the crowded squareThe trombone falls silentThe trumpet plays.
  34. Paulo Pereira Pinto PeixotoPaulo Pereira Pinto Peixoto,Poor Portuguese painter,Perfectly paintsDoors, walls and sinks,For a paltry price, boss.Curly pig, black stump.
  35. Don't Confuse!Don't confuse platypus with otolaryngologist,Ornithologist with otolaryngologist,Because platypus is platypus,Ornithologist is ornithologist,And otolaryngologist is otolaryngologist.
  36. Need to Come and GoNeed to come and go to get come-and-go.Will you lend me come-and-go?If come-and-go came and went, come-and-go would go,But since come-and-go goes and doesn't come, come-and-go doesn't go.
  37. Caught EverythingThe otter caught theTrunk of the stone monsterAnd Peter the mason'sSilver prize.
  38. What Animal Is It?Is it crocodile? Is it cocodrile?Is it cocrodile? Is it cocodillo?Is it corcodillo? Is it crocrodile?Is it crocrodillo? Is it corcrodile?Is it cocordile? Is it alligator?Will nobody get rightThe name of the silly crocodile?
  39. Capibaribe RiverThe Capibaribe riverWas capibarized.Who capibarized itWas the capibarizer.
  40. KnowKnowing what I know and knowingWhat you know and what you don't knowAnd what we don't know, both will knowIf we are wise, knowledgeableOr simply will knowIf we are knowers.
  41. Mr. TatáIs Mr. Tatá in?No, Mr. Tatá isn't in,But Mr. Tatá's wife is in.And when Mr. Tatá's wife is in,Is it the same as Mr. Tatá being in, is it?
  42. TimeTime asked time,How much time does time have,Time answered time,That it had no time,To see how much time,Time has.
  43. Old FelixHere comes old Felix,With an old bellows on his back,Old Felix stinks as muchAs old Felix's bellows stinks.
  44. The Rat Gnawed the King of Rome's ClothesThe rat gnawed the clothes of the King of Rome,The rat gnawed the clothes of the King of Russia,The rat gnawed Rodovalho's clothes...The rat kept on gnawingAnd Rosa Rita RamalhoLaughed at the gnawing rat.
  45. The Un-tilerThis house is tiled, who will un-tile it?The un-tiler who un-tiles it,Will be a good un-tiler!
  46. The Spider and the JarUnder the bed there's a jar.Inside the jar there's a spider.As much as the spider scratches the jar,As the jar scratches the spider.
  47. Auntie's LizardLet go of auntie, lizard!Lizard, let go of auntie!Only on the day when your auntieCalls the lizard lizard.
  48. CashewJuca's cashewAnd cajá's jackfruit.Juju's basketAnd Cacá's cashew.What does Cacá want? Cacá wants persimmon.Which persimmon does Cacá want? Cacá wants any persimmon.
  49. The Spider and the FrogThe spider scratches the frog.The frog scratches the spider.Neither does the spider scratch the frog.Nor does the frog scratch the spider.
  50. The ThrushThe thrush didn't knowThat the wise man knewThat the thrush didn't know how to whistle.
  51. The Sweetest SweetThe sweet asked the sweetWhich sweet is sweeterThan sweet potato sweet.The sweet answered the sweetThat the sweetest sweetThan sweet potato sweetIs sweet sweet potato sweet.
  52. One Lemon, A Thousand LemonsOne lemon, a thousand lemons, a million lemons.
  53. If the Bishop of Constantinoplewanted to de-ConstantinoplizeThere would be node-ConstantinoplizerThat would de-Constantinoplize itde-Constantinoplizingly.
  54. WeaverWeaver weaves the fabricIn seven silks of ZionThe silk has been wovenIn the weaver's fortune.
  55. Behind the SinkBehind the sink there's a plateA chick and a catThe sink drips, the plate catchesThe chick chirps and the cat meows.
  56. Three Sad TigersBring three plates of wheat for three sad tigers to eat.
  57. The Iara from AraraquaraIara grabs and ties the rare macaw from Araraquara.
  58. In Quick KidnappingIn quick kidnapping,A quick rat kidnapped three ratsWithout leaving traces.
  59. White CatfishWhite catfish, catfish white.
  60. The Priest Has Little CapeThe priest has little cape, because little cape he buys.