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Tongue twisters for S, Z and SH

Tongue twisters for the S, Z and SH sounds, as in “sip”, “zip” and “ship”, for clear diction. At speed, these hissing sounds blur into one. Keep each sound separate: slowly at first, with attention to word endings, then faster.

If a sound doesn't come out at all, start with a speech therapist: tongue twisters polish a sound you already have, they don't build it from scratch.

Short tongue twisters for S, Z and SH

  1. She sees cheese.
  2. Selfish shellfish.
  3. Sheep should sleep in a shed.
  4. Sure the ship's shipshape, sir.
  5. Irish wristwatch, Swiss wristwatch.
  6. Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.
  7. Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?
  8. If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose?
  9. Sam's shop sells sheets, shirts, socks and shoes.
  10. Rose's cousins use these reasons as easy excuses.
  11. Should such a shapely sash such shabby stitches show?

Medium tongue twisters for S, Z and SH

  1. The tailor sews zippers, sizes sleeves and shortens shirts.
  2. His dozen dazzling designs pleased the busy business owners.
  3. Ships sail, sails shift and the tall masts sway in the breeze.
  4. Sixty-six sizzling sausages sat side by side in a shiny steel pan.
  5. The shy musician closes her eyes, then sings the soft, easy phrases.
  6. Sofia's husband chooses zesty sauces and seasons the soup with sea salt.
  7. A noisy noise annoys an oyster, but a noisier noise annoys an oyster more.
  8. Swan swam over the sea. Swim, swan, swim! Swan swam back again. Well swum, swan!

Hard tongue twisters for S, Z and SH

  1. Susie works in a shoeshine shop. Where she shines she sits, and where she sits she shines.
  2. Zoe's sister surely shouldn't share these secrets, so she says she's sorry and sits in silence.
  3. The sushi chef slices fresh salmon, sprinkles sesame seeds and serves six small dishes to the hungry guests.
  4. Zach's cautious sister says he shouldn't sell the seaside house, so he shares it with his six cousins each summer.
  5. The busy shop assistant shows shoppers six shirts, seven scarves and a dozen shiny zippers, and sells them all by sunset.
  6. The zoo's zebras doze in the sun, the seals splash in the shallow pool and the visitors' shoes squeak on the shiny stones.
  7. She sells seashells by the seashore. The shells she sells are surely seashells. So if she sells shells on the seashore, I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

How to practice tongue twisters

  1. Slowly, syllable by syllable, with exaggerated precision: every ending, every consonant.
  2. Normal pace. Say it two or three times, perfectly clean. If a sound blurs, go back one step.
  3. Louder, as if someone is listening from across the room. Same pace, same clarity.
  4. Faster, but only up to the speed where it stays clean. Three times in a row without a stumble.
  5. Delivery: full voice, with emotion, as if on stage. Then take the next tongue twister.

Speed is a by-product of clarity. Move up a step only when you sound perfect on the current one.

More tongue twisters

More in the article: How to stop mumbling when you talk: a daily practice plan

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.

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