Skip to content
Ukrainian Language Delight: Tongue Twisters for Better Pronunciation visualisation

Ukrainian Language Delight: Tongue Twisters for Better Pronunciation

Enhance your pronunciation with delightful Ukrainian tongue twisters!
Learn with Comprenders App About Comprenders

Here are some popular Ukrainian tongue twisters (скоромовки) for pronunciation practice, along with transliterations and meanings:

  1. Карл у Кларки украв корали, а Клара у Карла украла кларнет.
    Karl u Klarky ukrav koraly, a Klara u Karla ukrala klarnet.
    (Karl stole corals from Klara, and Klara stole a clarinet from Karl.)
    This one emphasizes the “к” (k) and “р” (r) sounds.

  2. Шла Саша по шосе і сосала сушку.
    Shla Sasha po shose i sosala sushku.
    (Sasha walked along the highway and sucked on a drying bread ring.)
    Focuses on the “ш” (sh) and “с” (s) sounds.

  3. Білий бичок, білий бичок, білий бичок біля броду.
    Bilyi bychok, bilyi bychok, bilyi bychok bilia brodu.
    (White bull, white bull, white bull near the ford.)
    Highlights the “б” (b) and “ч” (ch) sounds.

  4. Тридцять три кораблі лавою лавилися.
    Trydtsyat try korabli lavoi lavylysia.
    (Thirty-three ships floated in a lava stream.)
    Features repeated “тр” (tr) and “л” (l) sounds.

Additional examples with simple phrases useful for learners:

  • Босий хлопець сіно косить.
    Bosyi khlopets sino kosyt’.
    (A barefoot boy is cutting the hay.)

  • Їла Марина малину.
    Yila Maryna malynu.
    (Maryna was eating raspberries.)

  • На дворі трава, на траві дрова.
    Na dvori trava, na travi drova.
    (There is grass outside, there is firewood on the grass.)

Practicing these tongue twisters slowly and clearly, then increasing speed gradually, helps in mastering Ukrainian pronunciation nuances, especially consonant clusters and palatalized sounds.

References

Open the App About Comprenders