“No DNA Just RSA”: 5-Year-Old’s isiZulu Tongue Twister Leaves SA Impressed

• A Cape Town mom shared a clip of her young daughter tackling a tricky local tongue twister
• The video got South Africans talking about local languages, culture, and identity online
• Language experts say tongue twisters can help people learn a new language

A Cape Town mother has shared a lighthearted Instagram clip showing her child confidently attempting an isiZulu tongue twister. The moment created admiration and laughter across Mzansi.

The video, posted on 10 June 2026, by Raphaella Scholiadis features the young child repeating the tongue twister while the mom records the moment in the background. The onscreen text reads:

"My 5-year-old can say this isiXhosa tongue twister."

She has since followed up with a second video, where she provides additional context, clarifying that the tongue twister is isiZulu rather than isiXhosa.

Briefly News reached out to Raphaella Scholiadis to find out more about the tongue twister featured in the video and how she came to know it. She said:

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“I unfortunately do not know the name of the tongue twister, but I learnt it in grade 4 from my Zulu teacher and have remembered it ever since.”

She also shared how the tongue twister is being passed on to the next generation.

“I taught both Alessandra (in the video) and her twin sister, Sophia, the tongue twister when they were 3 years old, and it took about a day to teach them.”

Tongue twisters build pronunciation, memory, and listening skills

According to Duolingo, tongue twisters help you get used to difficult sounds in a new language by training your mouth and ears to handle tricky word combinations. After repeating them, speaking becomes easier and more natural because your pronunciation improves through practice.

They also help you remember words better since you say the same phrases many times, making them stick in your mind. At the same time, they improve your listening by helping you notice where words start and end, which makes it easier to understand the rhythm and flow of a language.

Learning many languages at once

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Learning one language or several at the same time can feel challenging, but it becomes much easier when you stay consistent and don't rush the process. Small amounts of practice every day can make a big difference over time, helping you build confidence and improve steadily.

The most important thing is to enjoy learning and stay curious. Whether you're focusing on one language or exploring a few, taking it one step at a time can help you develop valuable communication skills and open the door to new cultures, opportunities, and experiences.

View the Instagram video below:

Social media users celebrate language and identity.

The video ignited reflections on South African identity, with users highlighting the importance of indigenous languages and cultural pride. This is what Mzansi said on the mom's page:

stevykosma wrote:

“Impressive! Love it 😍”

chloehaji added:

“I can’t even pronounce one of these words!!! Well done, my baby!!!❤️”

stargirl_eve commented

“I love how you can still hear her accent at the end 😭,”

internet. monk wrote

“No DNA, just RSA.”

kostascholiadis said:

"She's so good! But you know even nono, uthetha kancinci. 😎"

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carla_karpathakis exclaimed:

"Baby genius case study 2"

bee_mbatha1 wrote:

"😂I was confused there for a second without reading the subtitles 😂"

More Briefly News on languages

• A South African woman using her Afrikaans skills while abroad in Amsterdam sparked mixed but mostly amused reactions online, with many Mzansi users engaging in playful cultural commentary.
• South Africa has launched a free nationwide Mandarin training programme for tourist guides to boost communication skills and strengthen tourism links with Chinese visitors.
• Zuluboy encouraged South African parents to raise children learning multiple languages, sparking amused and supportive reactions online as users debated multilingual education.

Source: Briefly News