El oso mimoso me ama.
el O-so mi-MO-so me A-ma
The cuddly bear loves me.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
El oso mimoso me ama. A cuddly bear to help you practice your vowels!
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The Pure 'o' Vowel
/o/This tongue twister repeats the 'o' sound. In Spanish, it's a pure, short vowel. Unlike the English 'o' in 'go', it doesn't glide into a 'w' sound at the end. Keep your lips rounded and still.
The Consistent 's' Sound
/s/Practice the Spanish 's', which is almost always a crisp, hissing sound, like the 's' in 'snake'. Avoid the buzzy 'z' sound you might hear in English words like 'rose'.
The Pure 'a' Vowel
/a/The Spanish 'a' is open and consistent. Think of the sound you make when the doctor says 'say ahhh'. It's always the same, unlike the many 'a' sounds in English.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Let's focus on the vowels. Say 'o-so mi-mo-so'. Notice how the 'o' sound is identical every time. Keep it short and clean. Make the 's' sounds crisp.
Now for the 'a' sound. Open your mouth wide for 'a-ma', like you're saying 'ah'. Link the two words together so they flow smoothly: 'me-ama'.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a wonderful first tongue twister for Spanish learners. It's short, sweet, and perfectly designed to train your mouth for two of the most important building blocks of Spanish pronunciation: pure vowels and the consistent 's' sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using an English 'o'
Mistake: "Pronouncing 'oso' like the English phrase 'oh-so', where the vowel glides into a 'w' sound at the end."
Correction: The Spanish 'o' is a pure, short vowel. Your lips should form a circle and stay there for the whole sound. Try saying 'hot' in English—the vowel there is closer to the Spanish 'o'.
Buzzing the 's' Sound
Mistake: "Making the 's' in 'oso' sound like a 'z', as in the English word 'rose' or 'is'."
Correction: In almost all of Spanish, the 's' is always a crisp, voiceless sound, like the hissing of a snake. It never vibrates to become a 'z' sound. Keep the air flowing steadily.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This phrase is universally understood. The pronunciation of 's' as a single, hissing sound (a feature called 'seseo') is standard across all of Latin America and most of Spain, making this great practice for everyone.
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Cuddly Bear Challenge
Can you say it five times in a row, getting a little faster each time? Focus on keeping your vowel sounds pure and your 's' sounds crisp!
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'mimoso' really mean?
'Mimoso' is a lovely word that means affectionate, cuddly, or someone who loves to be pampered and shown affection. 'Cuddly' is a good, simple translation, but 'mimoso' carries a deeper feeling of loving tenderness.
Is this a good tongue twister for kids?
Absolutely! It's one of the best for children (and adult beginners) because it's short, has a cute mental image, and focuses on the most fundamental sounds in Spanish. It's a fun and easy way to start building pronunciation confidence.