Tongue-twisters (скороговорки) are a time-tested way to challenge your Russian pronunciation.
They’re not easy, even for native speakers.
As well as being amusing to try, if you can learn a few of these, you’ll seriously impress your Russian friends. ☺️
Here’s a list of classic Russian tongue-twisters with translations and tips on what makes each one tough for learners.
Водовоз вез воду из-под водопровода.
English meaning: Water truck was carrying water from the water conduit.
Why it’s challenging: Repeated “в” and “вод” sounds test your ability to differentiate similar syllables.
Съел молодец тридцать три пирога с пирогом, да все с творогом.
English meaning: Young man ate thirty-three cheese cakes.
Why it’s challenging: The “тр”, “пир”, and “тво” clusters demand precise articulation at speed.
У ежа ежата, у ужа ужата.
English meaning: A hedgehog has baby hedgehogs, a grass snake has baby snakes.
Why it’s challenging: The difference between “е” (ye) and “у” (u), plus “ж” and “ш” sounds, is tough.
Сачок зацепился за сучок.
English meaning: The butterfly net got caught on a bough.
Why it’s challenging: The similar “сачок” and “сучок” (net/bough) with soft and hard “ч” and “ц” sounds.
Прыгают в поле сорок сорок.
English meaning: Forty magpies are jumping in the field.
Why it’s challenging: Homonyms “сорок” (forty/magpies) push you to clarify context through intonation.
Курьера курьер обгоняет в карьер.
English meaning: A courier is overtaking another courier and approaching a quarry.
Why it’s challenging: Repeated “курьер” and “карьер” sound almost identical—hard to keep them distinct.
Орел на горе, перо на орле. Гора под орлом, орел под пером.
English meaning: An eagle is on the mountain, a feather is on the eagle. The mountain is under the eagle, the eagle under the feather.
Why it’s challenging: “р” and “л” alternations are tricky for learners not used to rolling “r”.
А мне не до недомогания.
English meaning: I can’t be bothered with indisposition
Why it’s challenging: The multiple “не” and “до” prefixes force you to clearly distinguish repeated syllables.
Везет Сенька Саньку с Сонькой на санках. Санки скок, Сеньку с ног, Соньку в лоб, все в сугроб.
English meaning: Senka is carrying a sledge with Sanka and Sonka. The sledge jumped, Senka was knocked off, Sonka was hit on the forehead, all were in the snowdrift.
Why it’s challenging: Alliteration with “С” and “Сн” clusters make this a speed test for your tongue.
Жри во ржи, да не ржи.
English meaning: Eat in rye and don’t neigh.
Why it’s challenging: Rapid alternation between “ж” and “р” sounds challenges both tongue and voice.
По семеро в сани уселись сами.
English meaning: (Each) seven of them sat into a sledge themselves.
Why it’s challenging: “С” and “сам” sounds, especially at the beginning and end of words, demand accuracy.
Кукушка кукушенку купила капюшон. Надел кукушенок капюшон. Как в капюшоне он смешон.
English meaning: A cuckoo bought a hood for the little cuckoo. The little cuckoo put it on. How funny he looks in the hood.
Why it’s challenging: Multiple “ку”, “ка”, and “ко” syllables plus the “ш” make for a tricky combination.
Хвалю халву.
English meaning: I praise halva.
Why it’s challenging: The “хв” and “лу” sound sequence is deceptively tricky for non-native speakers.
От топота копыт пыль по полю летит.
English meaning: Dust flies across the field because of the hooves.
Why it’s challenging: Rapid repetition of the “п” sound with both hard and soft vowels.
Константин констатировал.
English meaning: Konstantin stated.
Why it’s challenging: Repetition of “конст” and “ин” syllables force you to focus on enunciation.
Цапля чахла, цапля сохла, цапля сдохла.
English meaning: A heron was sick, lost weight, and died.
Why it’s challenging: The repetition of “ца” and “чах” plus “сдохла” at the end is a true test of consonant switching.
У осы не усы, не усища, а усики.
English meaning: Wasps have flagellum (small antennae).
Why it’s challenging: All those “у”, “сы”, and “си” sounds—hard to keep from blending together.
Не жалела мама мыла. Мама Милу мылом мыла. Мила мыла не любила, мыло Мила уронила.
English meaning: Mom didn’t spare the soap. Mother washed Mila with soap. Mila did not like the soap and dropped it.
Why it’s challenging: All those “м”, “л”, and “и” sounds will give your lips a workout.
Сколько осталось в поле сорок?
English meaning: How many magpies are there left in the field?
Why it’s challenging: “Ск” and “сорок” require you to transition smoothly between consonant clusters.
Инцидент с интендантом.
English meaning: An incident with an intendant.
Why it’s challenging: Similar “ин” and “инт” clusters trip up even advanced learners.
Стоит поп на копне, колпак на попе. Копна под попом, поп под колпаком.
English meaning: There is a priest on a haycock, a cap on the priest, haycock under the priest, priest under the cap.
Why it’s challenging: “П” and “к” alternation in multiple forms is a classic Russian tongue-twister pattern.
Расскажите про покупки. Про какие про покупки. Про покупки, про покупки, про покупочки свои.
English meaning: Tell me about the purchases. What purchases? About the purchases, purchases of yours.
Why it’s challenging: Repetition of “про”, “покупки”, and “покупочки” quickly tests your stamina and memory.
Полили ли лилию? Видели ли Лидию? Полили лилию. Видели Лидию.
English meaning: Have you watered the lily? Have you seen Lidia? We’ve watered the lily. We’ve seen Lidia.
Why it’s challenging: All those “ли” and “лили” syllables are easy to mix up, especially in rapid speech.
Я тебя, попугай, испугаю
English meaning: I will scare you, parrot
Why it’s challenging: Alternating between the “я”, “ю”, and “ай” vowels can easily trip you up at speed.
Все бобры для своих бобрят добры.
English meaning: All beavers are kind to their baby beavers.
Why it’s challenging: The “бобры”, “бобрят”, and “добры” all use the “бр” sound, challenging your rolling “r”.
На горе Арарат рвала Варвара виноград.
English meaning: Varvara collected grapes on Mount Ararat.
Why it’s challenging: The “р” and “в” alternation is a true test for trilling and voicing.
Прецедент с претендентом.
English meaning: A precedent with the applicant.
Why it’s challenging: The “пре”, “це”, and “дент” clusters are easy to stumble over for English speakers.
Даже шею, даже уши ты испачкал в черной туши. Становись скорей под душ. Смой с ушей под душем тушь. Смой и с шеи тушь под душем. После душа вытрись суше. Шею суше, суше уши, и не пачкай больше уши.
English meaning: You smeared even your neck and ears with black ink. Have a shower. Wash away the dirt from your ears and neck, and dry well after.
Why it’s challenging: Heavy use of “ш”, “щ”, and “ч” hushing sounds push your pronunciation precision.
Дятел дуб долбил, долбил, продалбливал, да не продолбил и не выдолбил.
English meaning: A woodpecker pecked an oak over time and didn’t succeed.
Why it’s challenging: Mastering “долб” and “дуб” syllable shifts at speed is not easy.
Два дровосека, два дроворуба, говорили про Ларьку, про Варьку, про Ларину жену.
English meaning: Two lumbermen, two lumberjacks were speaking about Larka, Varka, and Larin’s wife.
Why it’s challenging: Mastering alternating “дров” and “про” clusters is tough for non-natives.
Испугай, попугай, испугай!
English meaning: Startle, parrot, startle!
Why it’s challenging: The repetition of the “пу” and “гай” sounds in quick succession makes this a great warm-up for the soft “п” and “г” combinations.
Десять взлетели, сели на ели.
English meaning: The ten soared, sat on a spruce.
Why it’s challenging: The “е” and “л” sequences require clear transitions between soft and hard sounds.
На дворе дрова, за двором дрова, под двором дрова, над двором дрова, дрова вдоль двора, дрова вширь двора, не вмещает двор дров! Наверно, выдворим дрова с вашего двора обратно на дровяной двор.
English meaning: There is firewood everywhere in the courtyard and yard.
Why it’s challenging: The “дв”, “дров”, and “двор” combinations will tie your tongue in knots.
Два щенка щека к щеке щиплют щетку в уголке.
English meaning: Two puppies are nibbling a brush in the corner (cheek to cheek).
Why it’s challenging: Lots of “щ” and “шч” sounds—great for practicing soft palatalized consonants.
У елки иголки колки.
English meaning: Fir-tree’s needles are sharp.
Why it’s challenging: The “ел”, “игол”, and “колк” syllables require fast, accurate pronunciation.
Прецедент с претендентом.
English meaning: A precedent with the applicant.
Why it’s challenging: The “пре”, “це”, and “дент” clusters are easy to stumble over for English speakers.
Наша дочь речистая, у нее речь чистая.
English meaning: Our daughter is voluble. She speaks clearly.
Why it’s challenging: The soft “ч” and “р” sounds together require careful articulation.
Около колодца кольцо не найдется.
English meaning: The ring isn’t going to be found near the well.
Why it’s challenging: The repeated “ко” and “ло” blends are hard to keep straight at speed.
Russian tongue-twisters are more than just fun - they’re a fantastic way to fine-tune your pronunciation, improve your listening skills, and have a good laugh in the process.
Did I miss any?
Let me know in the comment section.
🎓 Cite article
Grab the link to this article
COMMENTS
NO ADVERTISING. Links will be automatically flagged for moderation.