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Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo

Believe it or not, that is a grammatically correct sentence in American English!

How is that possible?

Well, consider the fact that “Buffalo” is a city in New York, while “buffalo” means to bully or intimidate, as well as being a synonym for bison.

So: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo

means:

New York bison whom other New York bison bully, themselves bully New York bison.

Phew, even the explanation sounds like a tongue-twister! On the subject of tongue-twisters, here are some of my favorites:

As I was in Arkansas I saw a saw that could out saw any saw I ever saw saw. If you happen to be in Arkansas and see a saw that can out saw the saw I saw saw I’d like to see the saw you saw saw.

She stood on the balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccupping, and amicably welcoming him in.

A pessimistic pest exists amidst us.

The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.

Yours in crisp, error-free writing,
Jessica xx

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