Learn Spanish With Shakira
Learning Spanish with Shakira's music is a great way to learn! It is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. So music and song lyrics are a great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning Spanish!
Below are 11 song recommendations by Shakira to get you started learning Spanish! We have full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs recommended below, so check out all of our resources. We hope you enjoy learning Spanish with Shakira!
Shakira is a singer-songwriter who has been a major force in Latin Pop for over two decades, known for her unique voice and dynamic stage presence. She began her music career in the early 1990s, releasing her first album in 1991. Since then, she has become one of the most successful Latin American artists of all time, selling over 150 million records worldwide. Her unique blend of Latin, rock, and pop music has earned her numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards and Latin Grammy Awards. In addition to her music career, Shakira is also known for her philanthropic work, including her 'Pies Descalzos' Foundation, which provides education and resources to underprivileged children in her home country of Colombia.
CONTENTS SUMMARY
Monotonía (Monotony)
No fue culpa tuya, ni tampoco mía
Fue culpa de la monotonía
Nunca dije nada, pero me dolía
Yo sabía que esto pasaría
It wasn't your fault, nor mine
It was the monotony's fault
I never said anything but it hurt me
I knew that this would happen
Shakira's song Monotonía reflects on the breakdown of a relationship due to the monotony of everyday life. The lyrics describe how the couple slowly drifted apart, with one person seeking attention and the other feeling neglected. The song ultimately concludes that the monotony of the relationship was to blame, and that the couple had forgotten what they once were.
Te Felicito (I Congratulate You)
Por completarte me rompí en pedazos
Me lo advirtieron, pero no hice caso
Me di cuenta que lo tuyo es falso
Fue la gota que rebasó el vaso
To complete you I broke into pieces
They warned me, but I ignored
I realized that yours is false
It was the drop that overflowed the glass
In Shakira's song Te Felicito, she reflects on a relationship that has ended due to the other person's dishonesty and lack of authenticity. She acknowledges the other person's acting skills and compliments them for their performance, but ultimately expresses her relief that the relationship is over. She encourages the other person to continue their act, but also warns them that she will no longer be fooled.
Me Gusta (I LIKE IT)
Aclaremos que oscurece
Dejémonos ya de estupideces
Llevamos peleando par de meses
Y ya yo te lo he dicho tantas veces
Let's clarify because it's getting dark
Let's stop already the foolishness
We've been fighting for a couple of months
And I've already told you many times
In Shakira's song "Me Gusta", she reflects on the struggles of a relationship and how it has changed over time. She expresses her desire to talk and work things out, but her partner is not willing to put in the effort. She acknowledges that the perfect love only exists in novels, but still wants to try and make things work. She encourages her partner to put in the effort and talk things out, and expresses her desire to never lose them.
Clandestino (Clandestine)
Sabes que no nos conviene
Que la gente sepa lo que ambos tenemos
Que comemos de una fruta prohibida
Nos encanta y lo sabemos
You know it doesn't suit us
That people know what we both have
That we eat from a forbidden fruit
We love it and we know it
In the song Clandestino, Shakira sings about a forbidden love that is kept secret from the public. She and her lover know that it is not socially acceptable, but they cannot help but be drawn to each other. Despite the risks, they continue to be together, and Shakira expresses her feelings of joy and excitement when they are together. She also acknowledges the consequences of their actions, but ultimately decides to take the risk and enjoy the moment. The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of a clandestine love, and Shakira encourages her lover to not look for problems where there are none.
La Bicicleta (The Bicycle)
Nada voy a hacer
Rebuscando en las heridas del pasado
No voy a perder
Yo no quiero ser un tipo de otro lado
I will do nothing
Digging in the wounds of the past
I'm not going to lose
I don't want to be a guy from the other side
In Shakira's song "La Bicicleta", she encourages her love interest to take her away on a bike ride, away from the troubles of the past. She expresses her admiration for him, describing him as "diferente" and "despelucado". She also sings of her love for her hometown of Barranquilla and Barcelona, and encourages her love interest to show her the beauty of the Tayrona region. The song is a vallenato-style love song, with a catchy chorus of "Lleva, llévame en tu bicicleta" ("Take, take me on your bike").
Perro Fiel (Faithful Dog)
Aquí estás
Ya no puedes detenerte
¿Dónde vas?
Si estoy loco por tenerte
Here you are
You can't stop anymore
Where are you going?
If I'm crazy to have you
In the song "Perro Fiel" by Shakira and Nicky Jam, Shakira expresses her desire for a relationship with someone who is loyal and attentive, but also wild and dangerous. She is scared of how much she likes him, and worries that she will go crazy if she gets too close. She adds that that despite her fears, she is determined to stay with him, like a "Pierro Fiel" (faithful dog).
Nada (Nothing)
Voy caminando sobre un mar de hojas secas
Vuelan los ángeles sobre Berlín
Van entonando junto a mí un aleluya
Mientras la lluvia cae dentro de mí
I'm walking on a sea of dry leaves
Angels fly over Berlin
They're singing along with me a hallelujah
While the rain falls inside me
In the song "Nada" by Shakira, the singer reflects on the feeling of loneliness and longing for a loved one. She expresses that no matter how far she goes, or how much fame or money she has, it is all meaningless without the presence of her beloved. The song speaks to the idea that no matter what life throws at us, the only thing that truly matters is the people we love.
Me Enamoré (I Fell In Love)
La vida me empezó a cambiar
La noche que te conocí
Tenía poco que perder
Y la cosa siguió así
The life began to change me
The night that I met you
I had little to lose
And the thing continued like this
In the song Me Enamoré by Shakira, she reflects on the night she met her love and how it changed her life. She was taken aback by the fact that he was interested in her, and she expresses her joy and disbelief at the fact that she found someone who was perfect for her. She expresses her love for him and her desire to spend more time with him, and she emphasizes that this love is only for her and no one else.
Chantaje (Blackmail)
Cuando estás bien te alejas de mí
Te sientes sola y siempre estoy ahí
Es una guerra de toma y dame
Pues dame de eso que tienes ahí
When you're good, you walk away from me
You feel alone and I'm always there
It's a war of take and give
Then give me what you have there
In Chantaje, Shakira explores the complexities of a relationship between two people who are constantly playing a game of give and take. The lyrics describe a situation in which one person is trying to manipulate the other, while the other is trying to remain independent and free. The song speaks to the power dynamics of relationships, and how one person can be both a masochist and an egoist in the same relationship. Ultimately, the song suggests that no matter how hard one person tries to control the other, the other will always remain free.
Addicted to You
Debe ser el perfume que usas
O el agua con la que te bañas
Pero cada cosita que haces
A mí me parece una hazaña
It must be the perfume that you use
Or the water that you bathe with
But every little thing that you do
To me seems like a feat
In Shakira's song "Addicted to You", she expresses her deep infatuation with a person, describing the physical and emotional effects of her love. She is captivated by the person's perfume, the way they bathe, their eyes, their laugh, their hands, and their scent. She is so in love that she can't sleep or eat, and she is desperate for the person to let her love them.
La Tortura (The Torture)
Ay payita mía, guardate la poesia
Guardate la alegria pa' ti
No pido que todos los días sean de sol
No pido que todos los viernes sean de fiesta
Oh my girl, keep the poetry
Keep the joy for you
I don't ask that all days be sunny
I don't ask that all Fridays be a party
La Tortura by Shakira is a song about the pain of losing a loved one and the regret of not being able to make things right. The lyrics express the singer's longing for the person they have lost, and the regret of not being able to make things right. The song also speaks to the idea that mistakes can be learned from, and that love is more than just words. The singer acknowledges that they have not been a saint, but they are willing to make things right. The chorus of the song emphasizes the pain of losing the person and the regret of not being able to make things right.
We have more songs with translations on our website and mobile app. You can find the links to the website and our mobile app below. We hope you enjoy learning Spanish with music!