3 syllables: Mi, mo, sa. Stress on mo.
mim-OH-suh
/mɪˈmoʊsə/
Mimosa is pronounced mim-OH-suh (/mɪˈmoʊsə/). It has three syllables (Mi-mo-sa), with the stress on "mo". Mimosa is a small, delicate flowering shrub or tree (Mimosa pudica-like in some regions) or a cocktail beverage made with champagne and orange juice. In botany, it refers to a genus of plants known for fernlike leaves and bright-yellow blooms. In everyday usage, the word commonly denotes the drink, especially at brunch and social gatherings.
nounMimosa is a small, delicate flowering shrub or tree (Mimosa pudica-like in some regions) or a cocktail beverage made with champagne and orange juice. In botany, it refers to a genus of plants known for fernlike leaves and bright-yellow blooms. In everyday usage, the word commonly denotes the drink, especially at brunch and social gatherings.
- Forgetting secondary stress alignment; you want the main stress on the second syllable, not the first. - Over-emphasizing the final consonant; the ending /zə/ should be light and quick, not a drawn-out /z/. - Vowel length confusion between US /oʊ/ and UK /əʊ/; keep the diphthong clear and distinct rather than reducing it to a short vowel. - Misplacing lip rounding on the /o/; ensure rounded lips for /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ and avoid a neutral mouth position.
How to Pronounce Mimosa
"She ordered a mimosa to start the brunch crowd’s celebration."
"The mimosa flower emits a sweet scent that attracts bees in early spring."
"We clinked glasses and sipped mimosas while chatting about the weekend plans."
- Pronounce mimosa as /ˌmɪˈmoʊsə/ in US English, with the second syllable stressed. In UK English it’s /ˌmɪˈməʊzə/ and in some Australian speech /ˌmɪˈmoːzə/. Break it into three syllables: mi-MO-sa. Ensure an open mid back vowel in the second syllable and a soft final schwa. Practice saying ‘mi-’ with a short, lax vowel, then ‘mo’ with a long o, and finish with ‘sa’ as a relaxed schwa. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying mimosa to hear the stress on the second syllable.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (MIN-oh-zah) and shortening the middle vowel. To correct: place primary stress on the second syllable ('mi-MO-sa'), use a clear long /o/ in 'mo' rather than a short or clipped vowel, and ensure the final 'a' is a soft /ə/. Pay attention to the ending; avoid “mim-0-sa” with a hard ‘z’—the /z/ should be light and voiced, not emphasized.
In US English, /ˌmɪˈmoʊsə/ with a rhotacized mid vowel and clear long /o/. UK English often uses /ˌmɪˈməʊzə/, with a more centralized first syllable and a rounded /əʊ/ diphthong in the second. Australian tends to be /ˌmɪˈmoːzə/ or /ˌmɪˈmoːzə/ with a longer /oː/ and less rhoticity in some speakers, but generally aligns closely with US in the second syllable's vowel length. Focus on the /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ realization and the stable second-syllable stress.
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic structure with stress on the second syllable and the mid-to-long vowel in 'mo'. Learners often tilt toward the first syllable or mispronounce the ending as a tense vowel. The contrast between /oʊ/ (US) and /əʊ/ (UK) can be tricky, as can maintaining a light, voiced /z/ in the final syllable without turning it into a hard ‘z’ or an almost ‘s’ sound. Mastery requires practicing the transition from /mɪ/ to /moʊ/ (US) or /məʊ/ (UK) and keeping the final schwa relaxed.
A unique aspect is balancing the strong second syllable vowel with a soft final schwa while keeping the consonant cluster smooth across syllables. Unlike many three-syllable words, mimosa relies on a steady, mid-to-long vowel in 'mo' and a relaxed final /ə/. Practicing with minimal pairs like ‘Mimosa’ vs ‘Mimosas’ or ‘mimose’ (incorrect) can help lock in the correct vowel length and stress pattern.
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- US: Emphasize /ˌmɪˈmoʊsə/ with a clear long /oʊ/ in the second syllable; lips rounded, jaw slightly dropped, tongue mid-high. - UK: /ˌmɪˈməʊzə/ with a slightly less intense second-syllable vowel and a rounded /əʊ/. Keep the first syllable lighter: mi-. - AU: Often /ˌmɪˈmoːzə/ with a longer /oː/; avoid over-rolling the r and keep the final /ə/ relaxed. Practicing with minimal pairs helps you notice subtle vowel length changes across accents.
The word mimosa derives from the Latin name mimus, meaning ‘mimic’ or ‘to imitate,’ reflecting the flowers’ delicate, fernlike structure reminiscent of tiny mimicked leaves. The plant genus Mimosa was named by Linnaeus in the 18th century, with species such as Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant) and Acacia dealbata being historically grouped in this genus. The botanical term entered English through botanical texts and horticultural literature, retaining a consistent reference to both the plant genus and the similarly named cocktail. The citrus-alcoholic drink “mimosa” adopted the name in the early 20th century, likely inspired by the pale-yellow color of the beverage, which resembles the yellow blooms of some mimosa species. Over time, “mimosa” has become a standard term in brunch culture and botany alike, with the cocktail now a ubiquitous menu item and the plant genus still used in horticulture and ecological discussions.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mimosa" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Mimosa" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Mimosa"
-osa sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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