Six thick thistle sticks
Two short sentences that use almost the same words and mean different things. In the first, “thistle sticks” are sticks; in the second, “thistles stick”, meaning they cling. The sounds jump between S, TH and K in a pattern that keeps changing just enough to confuse the tongue.
Six thick thistle sticks. Six thick thistles stick.
More tongue twisters for the same sounds
- Both athletes thought the fifth lap was the toughest.
- Neither brother thinks the other is worth the bother.
- Thirty thirsty sailors sailed south, though the weather was rough.
- Thursday's math test was the third this month and the thirtieth this year.
- Thea's mother smoothed the thick cloth with both hands, then set the table.
- Their father thought that three months was a long time to gather the money.
Other famous tongue twisters for these sounds
Where to breathe
- Six thick thistle sticks.
- Six thick thistles stick.
Where S and TH trade places
The line runs S, TH, TH, S, again and again. “Six” starts with S and ends with KS. “Thick” starts with TH and ends with K. “Thistle” starts with TH and has an S in the middle. “Sticks” starts with ST and ends with KS. The tongue moves between the teeth and the ridge behind them on almost every sound.
The usual slips are “sick thick”, “thix thick”, “thistle thticks” and “sistle”. The S sounds and the TH sounds start to borrow each other's place. Also listen to “thistle”: the T is silent, so it is said “thiss-ul”.
The second sentence is the real test. Here the S moves: “thistle sticks” becomes “thistles stick”. Your mouth remembers the first version and wants to repeat it, so many people say the first sentence twice without noticing.
How to learn it
Start with “six thick”. It has the hardest jump in the line: from the KS at the end of “six” straight into TH. Keep a tiny gap between the words at first, then close it.
Next, practice the two endings side by side: “thistle sticks, thistles stick”. Say them slowly and make the S land where it belongs. It may help to think of the meaning: sticks made of thistle, then thistles that stick to you.
Breathe between the two sentences. When each one is clean on its own, say them as a pair three times in a row. Speed up only while you can still hear where each S is.
What a thistle is
A thistle is a wild plant with prickly leaves and a purple flower. Its spines catch on clothes and skin, which is the joke in the second sentence: thistles stick to you. The twister is folk, author unknown.
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.