¿Qué queso quiere Quico?
KE KE-so KIE-re KI-ko
What cheese does Quico want?
🔊 Listen & Practice
Start with slow speed to master pronunciation, then gradually increase to challenge yourself.
🎨 Visualization
Quico wants some cheese, but which one? This is a great way to practice the Spanish 'k' sound!
🎯 Pronunciation Focus
The 'qu' / 'q' Sound (Hard 'k')
/k/This is the hard 'k' sound in Spanish, just like in the English word 'key'. In Spanish, when you see 'qu' followed by an 'e' or 'i', the 'u' is completely silent. Just ignore it and make a crisp 'k' sound from the back of your throat.
The Clean 's' Sound
/s/The 's' in 'queso' should be a sharp, clean hiss, like the sound in the English word 'snake'. A common mistake for English speakers is to make it a buzzy 'z' sound. Keep it crisp and voiceless.
📝 Practice Breakdown
Start here. Focus on the two back-to-back 'k' sounds. Remember, the 'u' is silent. Make it sharp and clear: 'KE KE-so'.
Now for the next two 'k' sounds. The 'r' in 'quiere' is a single, soft tap of the tongue. Link the words smoothly: 'KIE-re KI-ko'.
Key Words in This Tongue Twister:
📚 Background
This is a classic and simple 'trabalenguas' for children across the Spanish-speaking world. It's a perfect first tongue twister for mastering the hard 'k' sound, which is written as 'qu' before the vowels 'e' or 'i'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronouncing the Silent 'u'
Mistake: "Trying to pronounce the 'u' in 'qué', 'queso', or 'quiere', making it sound like the English 'kw' in 'queen'."
Correction: In Spanish, the 'u' after a 'q' is always silent (unless it has two dots, like 'ü'). Just pretend it isn't there and make a hard 'k' sound. Think 'KEH', not 'KWEH'.
Using a 'Z' Sound for 'S'
Mistake: "Pronouncing the 's' in 'queso' with a buzzing 'z' sound ('kay-zo'), which is a common habit from English."
Correction: Keep the 's' sound crisp and voiceless, like the hiss of a snake. Your vocal cords shouldn't vibrate. It's 'KE-so', not 'KE-zo'.
🌎 Where It's Used
General Spanish
This simple tongue twister is universally known and used across the entire Spanish-speaking world, making it a perfect starting point for any learner.
🔗 Related Tongue Twisters
The Cheesy Question Challenge
Start slow, then try to say it five times in a row, getting a little faster each time. Can you ask Quico what cheese he wants without getting your tongue twisted?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'qué' written with 'qu' and not 'c'?
Great question! In Spanish spelling, the hard 'k' sound is written as 'c' before 'a', 'o', 'u' (like in 'casa', 'cosa', 'cuna') but as 'qu' before 'e' and 'i' ('queso', 'quitar'). This tongue twister is fantastic practice for remembering that rule!
Is 'Quico' a common name?
Quico is a very common nickname for the name Francisco. Depending on the country, you might also hear other nicknames like 'Paco' or 'Pancho'.