mamá oso
/mama oso/from spelling rules
The phrase "mama bear" in Spanish is mamá oso.
Meaning: protective woman (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/mama oso/
Did you know?
- While mamá oso is a literal translation, Spanish speakers often use the term leona (lioness) to describe a woman who is fiercely protective of her children.
- The word oso shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'arctic', because both trace back to the Greek 'arktos' meaning bear.
- In Spanish, the word 'oso' can also be a slang term for a large, hairy man, often used within specific subcultures.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are talking about Lucía's mother.
- JavierTu madre es muy protectora.Your mother is very protective.
- LucíaSí, es una mamá oso con nosotros.Yes, she is a mama bear with us.
- JavierSe nota que los quiere mucho.You can tell she loves you a lot.
- LucíaAsí es, siempre nos cuida.That's right, she always looks after us.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mamá, oso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
