Veneno literally translates to "poison". It's a dramatic and intriguing word that adds a layer of intensity to this romantic song.
In the lyrics, Christian Nodal asks his former lover which kisses she misses more: "Aquellos tiernos o los que llevan veneno" (The tender ones or the ones that carry poison). He uses veneno metaphorically to describe kisses that were wild, dangerous, and perhaps even a little toxic, but utterly unforgettable. This powerful imagery makes it a very memorable word to learn.
Mexican singer Christian Nodal stays up late scrolling through old photos and videos, and he is convinced his ex is doing the exact same thing. Instead of crying quietly into a pillow, he calls her out. He asks her directly: "De los besos que te di amor, ¿a cuál de todos echas más de menos?" ("Of all the kisses I gave you, love, which one do you miss the most?"). He walks through the whole collection—the sweet ones, the wild ones with no brakes, and the ones laced with "veneno" ("poison"). He refuses to believe she simply forgot about them.
The real bite comes when he calls out her sudden amnesia. He reminds her, "Si tú solita fuiste quien me dio luz verde" ("If you were the one who gave me the green light all on your own"). In Spanish, giving "luz verde" means giving someone permission or encouragement to make a move. He follows that up with pure Mexican sarcasm: "Ahora resulta que hasta la memoria pierdes" ("Now it turns out you're even losing your memory"). It is a hilariously cocky heartbreak song. He bets everything that while she pretends to be over it, she spends her nights biting her lip and thinking about him.
Christian Nodal grew up in Caborca, Sonora, in a house full of working musicians: his father played trumpet, his mother sang mariachi, and he was singing by four and writing his own songs by thirteen. Universal signed him at seventeen, and his first single, "Adiós Amor," went to the top of Mexico's regional charts in 2016 and stayed there for months. He calls what he does mariacheño, mariachi horns and strings laid over norteño accordion, sung in a nasal ache he has never bothered to smooth out.
His debut album Me Dejé Llevar (2017) was followed by Ahora, Ayayay! and the duet "Dime Cómo Quieres" with Ángela Aguilar. In 2021 "Botella Tras Botella," cut with the rapper Gera MX, became the first regional Mexican song to enter the Billboard Hot 100. He left Universal for Sony in 2022 and opened that chapter with the Forajido EPs and "Ya No Somos Ni Seremos," a number one in Mexico. Seven Latin Grammys have followed, four for best ranchera/mariachi album, the latest in 2025 for ¿Quién + Como Yo?. Bandera Blanca, thirteen tracks of the same romantic wreckage, arrived in May 2026.