Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Bonita by Juanes from Spanish to English.
These lyrics have verified word for word translations. Click any lyric word to see the translation and hear the pronunciation!
Verse 1
I didn't want to fall in love
And I went to party with my friends
I didn't think that finding you was my destiny
I told you baby, come closer, please
'Corazón' means 'heart' but it is also a term of endearment which means 'honey', 'baby', etc.
You have that little skirt, everyone goes crazy
'Vos' is another way of saying 'tú'; some Spanish-speaking countries use this older form of the second person singular pronoun, such as Nicaragua, Argentina, and others. 'Perder la razón' is literally 'to lose reason' but means 'to go crazy'
If you're liking it a lot
I ask you for forgiveness
Or: I apoligise
And after a vallenato we both leave
Vallenato is a Colombian music genre
Chorus 1
Because you, because you have that pretty face
I'm crazy about your body, what am I going to do
Without realizing, I lost myself in your little mouth
Don't look for me, because I never want to come back
Only an idiot is going to leave you alone
With that desire to kiss you, beautiful
Bonita can be pretty / beautiful, or it can also mean the equivalent of 'baby'
vallenato — vallenato (traditional Colombian folk music style)
Vallenato is a genre of folk music from Colombia that blends accordion, caja drum and guacharaca for an unmistakable Caribbean-Colombian sound.
Juanes slips it into the lyric "después de un vallenato nos vamos los dos" to paint a scene of dancing together before sneaking away. Learning this word opens a cultural doorway: it’s not just a song reference but a snapshot of Colombian musical heritage.
This song is a super fun, straightforward story about unexpectedly falling for someone at a party. The singer, Juanes, starts off by saying, "No quería enamorarme" [I didn't want to fall in love], and was just planning a night out with friends. But then he sees someone and everything changes. He's immediately captivated, telling her, "porque tú tienes esa cara bonita" [because you have that pretty face] and that he's "enloquecido con tu cuerpo" [crazy about your body]. It's all about that instant, overwhelming attraction.
He's not shy about it at all. He tells her "Sólo un idiota va a dejarte solita" [Only an idiot would leave you alone] and plans to dance a vallenato with her before they leave together. The song is full of Colombian flavor, with mentions of Medellín, vallenato music, and drinking guaro (a local spirit). It's a celebration of meeting someone who completely messes up your plans in the best way possible, leaving you so lost in the moment that you tell everyone, "Que no me busquen, que yo nunca quiero volver" [Don't look for me, I never want to come back].
Did you know?
In addition to reading lyric translations, you can now learn Spanish with music and lyrics from your favorite artists.
Yes, including Bonita by Juanes!
No more boring lessons. You can now learn with engaging and culturally relevant lyrics from the best artists.
