Aluminum, linoleum
Two everyday words, each four syllables long, and both built from the same few sounds: L, M, N and a run of weak vowels. Said in turn, they make a tongue twister that tests how well you keep syllables in order rather than how well you make a single sound.
Aluminum, linoleum, aluminum, linoleum.
More tongue twisters for the same sounds
- Rolling river rafts rarely reach the lower lake.
- Clara rolled the rear wheel along the rural road.
- Larry rarely lets his loyal readers rely on rumors alone.
- The world's largest library rarely lends rare literary records.
- The lawyer reread the long report and underlined every unclear rule.
- Lorraine relaxed in the garden, listening to the rain and the rustling leaves.
Other famous tongue twisters for these sounds
Where to breathe
- Aluminum, linoleum,
- aluminum, linoleum.
Why the syllables tangle
In American English, “aluminum” is said a-LOO-mi-num and “linoleum” li-NO-lee-um. Both are stressed on the second syllable and both end in “-um”. The sounds inside are almost the same set: L, M and N. Your mouth has to keep them in a different order in each word, and the swap from one word to the next is where it slips.
The classic mistakes are “alunimum” and “linoneum”: the L, M and N trade places. Some people blend the words into “alinoleum” or drop a syllable and say “alumnum”. Others put the stress on the first syllable, which throws off the rest of the word.
The vowels make it harder. Apart from the stressed one, every vowel is weak and short, so there is little to hold on to. The consonants are your only landmarks, and L, M and N are soft, continuous sounds that run together easily.
How to learn it
Clap each word out first: a-lu-mi-num, four claps, stress on the second; li-no-le-um, four claps, stress on the second. Say each one slowly with the claps until the stress lands in the same place every time.
Then feel the consonants. L: tongue tip up, air around the sides. N: tip up, air through the nose. M: lips closed, air through the nose. Say “lu-mi-num” and “li-no-le” very slowly and notice each change of position.
Once both words are steady, alternate them at a slow, even pace, one breath per pair. Speed up only while every word keeps four syllables. If one shrinks to three, slow down again.
Aluminum or aluminium
Speakers in Britain and many other countries say and spell it aluminium, with five syllables and the stress on MIN. The American form, aluminum, has four. This tongue twister uses the American word, but the drill works with either: what matters is that each syllable keeps its place.
Keep practicing
Practice with a timer
In DramaLab, the speed ladder is an exercise: it gives you tongue twisters one by one, walks you up the five steps and keeps time. No sign-up needed.