Cómo Dónde Y Cuándo Lyrics in English by Shakira
cero a la izquierda is a fantastic Spanish idiom that literally translates to "a zero on the left". Think about it: a zero in front of a number, like in '07', adds no value.
Figuratively, it means something or someone is worthless or completely insignificant. In the song, Shakira sings "el pasado es un cero a la izquierda" (the past is a zero on the left) to powerfully express that she's letting go of what's behind her and focusing only on the present and future. Learning idioms like this is a great way to sound more like a native speaker!
Shakira kicks this song off with a very direct take on life: "La vida es una perra, ya lo sé" (Life is a bitch, I know). It's a fun, blunt way to say she understands that daily routines and stress can be overwhelming. The song argues that we often get bogged down by small things and forget to live. Her solution? Grab a towel and head to the beach to forget "lo malo del mundo" (the bad things in the world), even if just for a moment. The whole point is summed up in the chorus: "No importa cómo, dónde y cuándo / Lo que importa es con quién" (It doesn't matter how, where, or when / What matters is who you're with).
The song encourages you to live in the now. Shakira sings that "el pasado es un cero a la izquierda" (the past is worthless) and that "sólo existe hoy" (only today exists). It's all about shaking off what weighs you down and finding strength in the present moment with good people. She even throws in a funny observation that the only honest people left are "los borrachos en los bares" (the drunks in the bars)! It's a great reminder that time flies when you're having fun, so you should spend it with the right company.
