International Tongue Twister Day

It’s International Tongue Twister Day! “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” “A quick witted cricket critic.” “She sells seashells by the sea shore.” How many other tongue twisters can you think of to celebrate this tongue-twisting holiday?

Tongue twisters have fascinated people throughout history. Did you know that Peter Piper is a historical figure? Pierre Poivre was a one-armed French pirate and horticulturist during the mid-1700s. Poivre was notorious for stealing spice nuts (known as “peppers”) from Dutch trade ships, and using them to plant his garden. On at least one occasion he stole half a bushel of nutmegs, which inspired the tongue twister we know and love today.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most difficult tongue twister in the English language is: “The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.” To celebrate International Tongue Twister Day (always the 2nd Sunday in November), read a rhyming book or practice some of your favorite tongue twisters with your friends and family!