Busco el vasco bizco.
BUS-co el BAS-co BIS-co
I'm looking for the cross-eyed Basque.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
Can you spot the cross-eyed Basque? Saying it is harder than finding him!
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The Spanish 'b' and 'v' Sound
/b/In Spanish, 'b' and 'v' sound identical. This twister forces you to make the same lip-pursed sound for both 'busco' and 'vasco'. It's like a soft English 'b' where your lips don't press as hard.
The 's', 'z', and 'c' Sound (Seseo)
/s/This twister plays on the letters 's', 'z', and 'c'. In most of the Spanish-speaking world, they all make a crisp 's' sound, like in 'snake'. The challenge is to say this sound clearly and quickly in 'busco', 'vasco', and 'bizco'.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start here. Notice that the 'b' in 'busco' and the 'v' in 'vasco' make the exact same sound. Keep the 's' sound crisp and clear.
Now link the last two words. The challenge is the quick 's-co' 'z-co' sequence. Remember, in most dialects, the 'z' in 'bizco' sounds just like the 's' in 'vasco'.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a short but very effective Spanish tongue twister ('trabalenguas'). It's designed to drill the identical pronunciation of 'b' and 'v', and the rapid repetition of the 's' sound (from the letters s, c, and z), which is a core feature of most Spanish accents.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronouncing 'v' like in English
Mistake: "Making the 'v' in 'vasco' sound like the English 'v' in 'vase', with your top teeth touching your bottom lip."
Correction: In Spanish, 'b' and 'v' are pronounced the same. Just press your lips together lightly and release. The first sounds of 'Busco' and 'vasco' should be identical twins!
Making a 'th' sound for 'z' or 'c'
Mistake: "Pronouncing the 'z' in 'bizco' with a 'th' sound, like in the English word 'think'."
Correction: While this 'th' sound is common in parts of Spain, the vast majority of Spanish speakers pronounce 'z' and 'c' (before e/i) exactly like an 's'. For clear, universal Spanish, aim for a crisp 's' sound in 'busco', 'vasco', and 'bizco'.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This tongue twister is known throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The pronunciation of 'z' and 'c' as 's' ('seseo') is standard in Latin America and parts of Spain, making this a great practice tool for the most common Spanish accent.
Spain (Distinción)
In most of Spain, the 'z' in 'bizco' would be pronounced with a 'th' sound (like in 'thin'). The 's' in 'busco' and 'vasco' remains an 's' sound. This makes the tongue twister even harder for learners trying to master that accent!
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Basque Search Challenge
Say it five times in a row, as fast as you can, without getting your 's' sounds mixed up. Can you do it in under 5 seconds? Record yourself and find out!
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do 'b' and 'v' sound the same in Spanish?
Historically, they were different sounds, but over centuries they merged into one. Now, the spelling is based on the word's Latin origin, but the pronunciation is identical. It's a common point of confusion for learners, which is why exercises like this are so helpful!
Should I learn the 'th' sound for 'z' and 'c'?
It depends on your goals! If you want to speak like someone from Madrid, yes. But if you want to be understood by the most people, using the 's' sound ('seseo') is perfectly correct and much more common worldwide. We recommend mastering the 's' sound first.