Murmuran is the third-person plural of murmurar, meaning “to whisper” or “to murmur.” It instantly evokes the hush-hush gossip swirling around Selena’s amor prohibido.
In the lyric “Amor prohibido murmuran por las calles,” strangers are literally whispering through the streets about the couple’s forbidden love. The word’s soft, rolling sound mirrors the secretive whispers it describes, making it a vivid and memorable verb to learn.
If you love classic, dramatic love songs where the whole neighborhood is gossiping about who you date, you need to hear "Amor Prohibido" by Selena Y Los Dinos. Selena kicks things off with pure impatience, singing "Con unas ansias locas quiero verte" ("With crazy longing, I want to see you"). In Spanish, ansias means intense cravings or desperate eagerness, and she is feeling every bit of it while waiting to hear her partner's voice.
The drama heats up because everyone in town disapproves: "Amor prohibido murmuran por las calles / Porque somos de distintas sociedades" ("Forbidden love, they whisper in the streets / Because we are from different social classes"). Here, sociedades refers specifically to class standing and wealth. Their parents hate it, neighbors talk trash, but Selena shrugs it off with zero shame. She bluntly admits "Aunque soy pobre" ("Even though I am poor"), arguing that genuine affection easily beats cash. It is a loud, unapologetic celebration of choosing love over money and family gossip.
Selena y Los Dinos was a groundbreaking Tejano band formed in 1981 in Lake Jackson, Texas by the iconic singer Selena Quintanilla and her father, Abraham Quintanilla. The group featured Selena's siblings A.B. Quintanilla on bass and Suzette Quintanilla on drums, blending Tejano, pop, and traditional rock to create their signature sound. Rising from humble beginnings performing at family gatherings and local events, they recorded several albums and gained a devoted following in Texas.
Their dynamic performances and Selena's captivating voice helped popularize Tejano music throughout the 1980s. After signing with EMI Latin, Selena launched a solo career while still touring with the band. Tragically, Selena's murder in 1995 ended the band’s journey, but their legacy lives on as pioneers who opened doors for Latin artists worldwide.