Inklingo
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oso

/OH-soh/

bear

A friendly-looking large brown bear standing on all fours in a bright green grassy meadow, looking forward.

The word 'oso' can refer to a bear, the large mammal.

oso(noun)

mA1

bear

?

The large mammal

Also:

teddy bear

?

Shortened from 'osito'

📝 In Action

Vimos un oso negro comiendo bayas en el bosque.

A1

We saw a black bear eating berries in the forest.

El oso polar vive en el Ártico y es enorme.

A2

The polar bear lives in the Arctic and is enormous.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • oso pardo – brown bear
  • oso polar – polar bear

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Plural

Since 'oso' is a masculine noun, its feminine form is 'osa' (female bear). To make it plural, just add '-s': 'osos'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Gender

Mistake: "La oso (Incorrect use of feminine article)"

Correction: El oso (Always use the masculine article 'el' for the animal in general, even if you don't know its sex.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Diminutive Form

The diminutive 'osito' is used for a little bear, but most often means 'teddy bear'.

A surprised person wearing red overalls tripping over their feet, causing a large stack of colorful wooden blocks they were carrying to tumble dramatically onto the floor.

Another meaning of 'oso' is a blunder or noticeable mistake.

oso(noun)

mB1

blunder

?

A noticeable mistake

,

moment of shame

?

Feeling embarrassed

Also:

faux pas

?

Social error

📝 In Action

Hice el oso cuando saludé a la persona equivocada en la reunión.

B1

I made a fool of myself (or: I had an embarrassing moment) when I greeted the wrong person at the meeting.

¡Qué oso! Se le cayó la bandeja entera.

B2

How embarrassing! He dropped the entire tray.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vergüenza (shame)
  • ridículo (ridiculousness)

Idioms & Expressions

  • hacer el oso – To make a fool of oneself, to do something clumsy and embarrassing.

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Qué oso'

When used as an exclamation ('¡Qué oso!'), it means 'How embarrassing!' or 'What a blunder!' and is used to describe an awkward situation.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Direct Translation

Mistake: "No quiero hacer el oso (I don't want to do the bear)."

Correction: The phrase 'hacer el oso' must be learned as a unit meaning 'to make a fool of oneself.' Don't translate the words literally.

⭐ Usage Tips

Slang Connection

This meaning comes from the idea of the animal being clumsy, large, and generally noticeable, symbolizing a noticeable mistake or awkward moment.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: oso

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'oso' in its figurative, informal meaning?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

osa(female bear) - noun
osito(teddy bear / little bear) - noun
osuno(bear-like) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

If 'oso' means bear, why do people use it to mean 'embarrassment'?

This is a form of slang, especially common in Mexico. It comes from the cultural idea that a bear is large, clumsy, and very noticeable. So, 'hacer el oso' means doing something so clumsy or awkward that you draw attention to yourself in an embarrassing way.

Is 'oso' masculine or feminine?

'Oso' is a masculine noun. The word for a female bear is 'osa.' You use 'el oso' for the animal in general.