Russian Tounge Twisters

Russian MiniLessons: 15 Russian Tongue Twisters

Published: December 15, 2008

Poetry and tounge twisters can be a great way to improve both your vocabularly and pronounciation in Russian! In Russian, tounge twisters are known as as “скороговорки” (which means something like “fast-sayings”). Below are several скороговорки that are fairly well known in Russia and are often used for “training the tounge.”
1. На горке горько ревет Егорка.
2. На дворе трава, на траве дрова. Не руби дрова на траве двора.
3. Проворонила ворона вороненка.
4. Корабли лавировали, лавировали да не вылавировали.
5. Карл у Клары украл кораллы. Клара у Карла украла кларнет.
6. Щипцы да клещи – вот наши вещи.
7. Цапля чахла, цапля сохла, цапля сдохла наконец.
8. Пол мыла Лара, мила Ларе помогала.
9. Ехал Грека через реку, видит Грека в реке рак, сунул Грека руку в реку, рак за руку Греку цап.
10. Щетинка у чушки, чешуйка у щучки.
11. Жук жужжит и встать не может. Ждет он, кто ему поможет.
12. Волки рыщут, пищу ищут.
13. Мишка шапкой шишки сшиб.
14. Маша дала Ромаше сыворотку из-под простокваши.
15. Если руки мыли вы, если руки мыли мы, если руки вымыл ты, значит руки вымыты.

About the author

Andrei Nesterov

Andrei Nesterov leads SRAS' Research Services, performing remote archive research and consultations for researchers around the globe. Andrei graduated from Ural State University (journalism) and Irkutsk State Linguistic University (English). He also studied public policy and journalism at Duke University on a Muskie Fellowship and taught Russian at West Virginia University. As a journalist, he has reported in both Russian and English language outlets and has years of archival research experience. He has travelled Russia extensively and penned many stories on the “real Russia” which lies beyond the capital and major cities. Andrei also contributes news, feature stories, and language resources to the SRAS Family of Sites.

Program attended: SRAS Staff Member

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Josh Wilson

Josh has lived in Moscow since 2003, when he first arrived to study Russian with SRAS. He holds an M.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in History from Idaho State University, where his masters thesis was written on the political economy of Soviet-era censorship organs affecting the stage. At SRAS, Josh assists in program development and leads our Home and Abroad Programs. He is also the editor-in-chief for the SRAS newsletter, the SRAS Family of Sites, and Vestnik. He has previously served as Communications Director to Bellerage Alinga and has served as a consultant or translator to several businesses and organizations with interests in Russia.

Program attended: SRAS Staff Member

View all posts by: Josh Wilson