Crisp crusts crackle crunchily
Four words that sound like what they describe: the noise of fresh bread. Every word starts with KR, and two of them end in heavy clusters, SP and STS. It is short, but it gives the tongue no vowel to rest on for long.
Crisp crusts crackle crunchily.
More tongue twisters for the same sounds
- His twelfth attempt worked best.
- The hosts left gifts on the guests' desks.
- The film's plot twists shocked the critics.
- Six months of tasks and six months of tests.
- Thanks for the drinks, the snacks and the chats.
- She asks what he asked, and he asks what she asks.
Other famous tongue twisters for these sounds
Where to breathe
- Crisp crusts
- crackle crunchily.
KR at the start, SP and STS at the end
The KR cluster opens all four words. K is a stop at the back of the mouth, and the tongue then pulls back for R. If the R weakens, “crisp” becomes “kisp” and “crackle” becomes “cackle”.
The endings are the real test. “Crisp” ends with SP, a hiss followed by a pop of the lips. “Crusts” ends with STS: hiss, tap, hiss. Many people drop the T and say “crusses”, or drop the final S and say “crust”. In fast speech this is one of the most common reductions in English.
“Crunchily” has three syllables and an NCH cluster in the middle. Under speed it shrinks to “crunchly” or “crunchy”.
How to practice it
Start with the endings alone: “-sp, -sts”. Then the words: “crisp, crusts”. Make each consonant audible. For STS, think of it as “crust” plus a short S.
Then practice the second half: “crackle crunchily”. Clap the syllables: crack-le crunch-i-ly, five in all.
Breathe after “crusts”. Say the line slowly three times, then faster. The test of a clean round is the T in “crusts”: if you can hear it, the rest is probably fine.
Questions about this tongue twister
- How do you pronounce crusts?
- Like “crust” with an S added: KRUSTS. All three final sounds, S, T and S, should be there. In fast speech many native speakers drop the T, but for clear speech keep it, even if lightly.
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.