Memo el mimo menea la mano.
ME-mo el MI-mo me-NE-a la MA-no
Memo the mime moves his hand.
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
Memo the mime is waving his hand. Can you say it without mixing up your 'm's and 'n's?
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The 'm' Sound (El sonido 'm')
/m/Focus on closing your lips completely to make a clear 'm' sound, like in the English word 'mom'. You'll repeat this in 'Memo' and 'mimo'. Feel the vibration in your lips.
Switching Between 'm' and 'n'
/m/ -> /n/The main challenge here is moving quickly from the 'm' sound (lips together) to the 'n' sound (tongue tip behind your top teeth). Practice the transition from 'mimo' to 'menea' and then 'mano'.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start here. Really focus on making a clear, buzzing 'm' sound for both 'Memo' and 'mimo'. Press your lips together firmly for each one.
Now for the tricky part. Notice how your mouth changes from 'menea' (lips together, then tongue up) to 'mano' (lips together, then tongue up again). Feel the difference!
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a fantastic first tongue twister for Spanish learners. It's short, simple, and helps you practice the nasal consonants 'm' and 'n', which are very common. It’s often used with children to help them with clear articulation.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mumbling the 'm's
Mistake: "Not closing the lips completely, which makes the 'm' sound unclear or sound like an 'n'."
Correction: Exaggerate the 'm' sound at first. Press your lips together and hum: 'Mmmmm-emo el mmmmm-imo'. This helps build the muscle memory for a clear sound.
Blurring 'menea' and 'mano'
Mistake: "Rushing through the words and making the 'n' sound in 'menea' and 'mano' sound too similar to the 'm's around them."
Correction: Slow down and say 'me-NE-a'. Feel your tongue tap the roof of your mouth for the 'n'. Then do the same for 'ma-NO'. The 'n' is made with your tongue, while the 'm' is made with your lips.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This is a universally known and used tongue twister, perfect for learners anywhere in the Spanish-speaking world.
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Mime's Wave
Can you say it five times in a row without getting your 'm's and 'n's mixed up? Try to get a little faster each time!
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why practice such a simple tongue twister?
Even simple tongue twisters are powerful! This one builds a strong foundation by training your mouth for common sounds. Mastering the basics like the 'm' and 'n' will make more complex words much easier to pronounce later on.
What does 'menear' mean?
'Menear' is a verb that means to move, shake, or wag something, often rhythmically. In this context, Memo is moving or waving his hand.