Tongue twisters or trabalenguas are phrases that use repetitive syllable sounds that make them difficult to pronounce. Because of the rhymes, they are often used with children as a fun exercise to practice Spanish pronunciation and diction when learning the language at an early age. The objective of a tongue twister is to pronounce it clearly at a normal speed (or increasing the speed of speech) without any mistakes.

In a previous Speaking Latino article early this year, Spanish teacher and blogger Rease Kirchner, wrote about the good practice of using children materials when adults are learning a new language. Add the following trabalenguas to the list of things you can do to improve your Spanish. Experts agree that tongue twisters:

1. Stimulate memory, focus and concentration

2. Improve your listening perception and comprehension

3. Increase your speech speed

4. Help you speak with precision and no mistakes

5. Entertain both children and adults while learning

Trabalenguas are part of the oral literature and popular culture, that is why there are some many variations of the same ones. Some are considered classics that are known across countries. Others are particular to a specific country.

One of the biggest challenges for English speakers (and oriental cultures) learning Spanish pronunciation is pronouncing the R’s. Here are some versions of the tongue twister Tres tristres tigres (Three sad tigers) that I guarantee will help you to roll your R’s in Spanish.

1. TRES TRISTES TIGRES

Version 1:

Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal en tres tristes trastos.

En tres tristes trastos tragaban trigo tres tristes tigres.

Version 2:

Tres tristes tigres triscaban trigo en un trigal.

Un tigre, dos tigres, tres tigres trigaban en un trigal.

¿Qué tigre trigaba más?

Todos trigaban igual.

Version 3:

En tres tristes trastos de trigo,

tres tristes tigres comían trigo.

Comían trigo, tres tristes tigres,

en tres tristes trastos de trigo.

 

If you though that you had enough R’s practicing with the Tres tristes tigres tongue twister, here are three versions of another classic: Erre con erre.

2. ERRE CON ERRE

Version 1:

Erre con erre cigarro,

erre con erre barril.

Rápido corren los carros,

cargados de azúcar del ferrocarril.

Version 2:

Erre con erre cigarro,

erre con erre barril.

Rápido corren los carros,

detrás del ferrocarril.

Version 3:

Erre con erre guitarra,

erre con erre barril.

Mira que rápido ruedan,

las ruedas del ferrocarril.

In the following two tongue twisters, a play on words is used and the sound of ch is dominant. The first one, <em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">Pancha plancha</em>, is one of the easiest <em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">trabalenguas</em> that exists. <em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">Pancha</em> is the nickname for Francisca and <em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">plancha</em> means an iron. The second one,<em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"> Me han dicho que has dicho un dicho</em>, plays with the verb say and the noun saying, as in a common phrase, which in Spanish is the exactly the same word: <em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">dicho</em>.

Warm up your tongue with <em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">Pancha plancha</em> to get through the second one!

<em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">Pancha plancha con cuatro planchas.</em>

<em style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">¿Con cuántas planchas Pancha plancha?</em>

Version 1:

Me han dicho

que has dicho un dicho,

un dicho que he dicho yo.

Ese dicho que te han dicho

que yo he dicho, no lo he dicho;

y si yo lo hubiera dicho,

estaría muy bien dicho

por haberlo dicho yo.

Version 2:

Me han dicho

que has dicho un dicho,

que han dicho que he dicho yo.

El que lo ha dicho mintió;

y en caso que hubiese dicho ese dicho

que han dicho que he dicho yo,

dicho y redicho quedó,

y estará bien dicho ese dicho,

que han dicho que he dicho yo.

Taken from <em>Speakinglatino.com </em><a href="https://www.speakinglatino.com/6-tongue-twisters-to-improve-your-spanish-pronunciation/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.speakinglatino.com/6-tongue-twisters-to-improve-your-spanish-pronunciation/</a>;