Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks
This line is a straight contest between T and TH. Names with T alternate with words that start with TH, and the last word, “thumbtacks”, has both inside it. It is a good test for anyone who tends to say “tree” for “three”.
Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks.
More tongue twisters for the same sounds
- This thing, that thing, these things, those things.
- 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.
Other famous tongue twisters for these sounds
Where to breathe
- Tom threw Tim
- three thumbtacks.
Where T and TH get mixed
For T the tongue tip taps the ridge behind the upper teeth and stops the air for a moment. For TH it comes forward to the teeth and lets the air flow. The order here is T, TH, T, TH, TH, and then a T in the middle of “thumbtacks”. Your tongue has to move forward and back on every word.
The result at speed is “Tom trew Tim tree tumbtacks”, or the opposite, “Thom threw Thim”. Speakers whose first language has no TH often replace it with T or S in exactly this kind of line.
“Thumbtacks” is a small word puzzle of its own. The B is silent, so it sounds like “thum-tacks”, and it ends in a KS cluster. Many people say “thumbtack” and drop the S, or add a B that is not there.
How to learn it
Practice the minimal pairs first: “tree, three”, “trew, threw”, “tum, thumb”. On the T word the tongue is hidden, on the TH word the tip shows. Use a mirror until you can see the difference on every pair.
Then split the line in two: “Tom threw Tim” and “three thumbtacks”. Take a quick breath between them at first. Make the S at the end of “thumbtacks” clear; it tells the listener there were several.
When both halves are clean, join them and say the line three times in a row. Speed up slowly. If you start hearing “tree”, stop, say “three” on its own with a slow TH, and begin again.
Questions about this tongue twister
- What is a thumbtack?
- A short pin with a wide flat head, used to fix paper to a board or a wall. You push it in with your thumb, hence the name. In British English it is usually called a drawing pin.
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.