Spanish Love Songs Translated to English – Canción de Otoño by Jose Luis Perales

Music is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable ways to practice Spanish throughout the day. Today we will review the song Cancion de Otoño by the Spanish singer José Luis Perales, a romantic melody that invites us to reflect about the way time passes by.

On this page, you’ll find a video you can use to listen to the song. Here’s the process I suggest you follow:

Step 1:

Play the song and listen to it WITHOUT reading the lyrics. Try to understand as much as possible.

Step 2:

Play the song again, and read the lyrics in Spanish only.

Step 3:

Play the song again, and pause it when needed in order to read the lyrics in Spanish and English when it’s required.

Step 4:

Play the song one more time, try to understand as much as possible and compare it with your first try.

Step 5:

Continue listening to the same song at least 1 time per day for a week so you can continue to practice your Spanish comprehension skills (and your dance moves!)

Here’s the song:

Canción de Otoño by Jose Luis Perales:

And here are the lyrics in Spanish and English:

Canción de Otoño por José Luis Perales
Autumn Song by José Luis Perales

Como sopla el viento en las ventanas
The way the wind blows in the windows

Como llueve hoy
The way it rains today

Como está la calle de vacía
The way the street is empty

Como muere el sol
The way the sun dies

Estos días grises del otoño
These gray days of autumn

Me ponen triste
They make me sad

Y al calor del fuego de mi hoguera
And in the heat of the fire of my bonfire

Te recuerdo hoy
I remember you today

 

Te recuerdo hoy
I remember you today

A ti, que eres mi vida entera
You, who are my whole life

La brisa de primavera, la claridad
The spring breeze, the clarity

A ti, que sufres cuando me esperas
To you, who suffers when you wait for me

Que miras a las estrellas
That you look at the stars

Y que suspiras por mí
And that you sigh for me

 

Como arrastra el viento aquellas hojas
How the wind drags those leaves

Como llueve hoy
How it rains today

Y que torpe vuela por el cielo
And how clumsy it flies through the sky

Ese gorrión
That sparrow

Se han quedado mudos esos nidos
Those nests have remained silent

De golondrinas
Of swallows

Y sentado al borde de la noche
And sitting on the edge of the night

Te recuerdo hoy
I remember you today

 

Te recuerdo hoy
I remember you today

A ti, que eres mi vida entera
To you, who are my whole life

La brisa de primavera, la claridad
The spring breeze, the clarity

A ti, que sufres cuando me esperas
To you, who suffers when you wait for me

Que miras a las estrellas
That you look at the stars

Y que suspiras por mí
And that you sigh for me

 

Los paraguas pasan lentamente
Umbrellas pass slowly

Frente a mi balcón
In front of my balcony

El reloj se escucha como siempre
The clock sounds like always

En el comedor
In the dining room

Estos días grises del otoño
These gray days of autumn

Me ponen triste
They make me sad

Y al calor del fuego de mi hoguera
And in the heat of the fire of my bonfire

Te recuerdo hoy
I remember you today

 

Te recuerdo hoy
I remember you today

A ti, que eres mi vida entera
To you, who are my whole life

La brisa de primavera, la claridad
The spring breeze, the clarity

A ti, que sufres cuando me esperas
To you, who suffers when you wait for me

Que miras a las estrellas
That you look at the stars

Y que suspiras por mí
And that you sigh for me

Como sopla el viento en las ventanas
The way the wind blows in the windows

Como llueve hoy
The way it rains today

 

You can listen to the song one more time over here:

 

I hope this was useful for you. What’s your favorite love song in Spanish? Please let us know in the comments section at the end of this page.

Spanish Songs with Translations – “La Vida es un Carnaval” by Celia Cruz

Celia Cruz is so popular around the world, that you’ve probably heard one of her songs in a movie, a commercial or at a restaurant even if you haven’t realized it.

Although she passed away in 2003, she’s still alive in the hearts of millions of Spanish speakers who continue to dance inspired by her music. She had a joyful heart and loved smiling wherever she went. She was a tornado of positive energy who enjoyed inspiring others.

Today, we will go over one of her most famous songs.

On this page, you’ll find a video you can use to listen to the song. Here’s the process I suggest you follow:

Step 1:

Play the song and listen to it WITHOUT reading the lyrics. Try to understand as much as possible.

 

Step 2:

Play the song again, and read the lyrics in Spanish only.

 

Step 3:

Play the song again, and pause it when needed in order to read the lyrics in Spanish and English when it’s required.

 

Step 4:

Play the song one more time, try to understand as much as possible and compare it with your first try.

 

Step 5:

Continue listening to the same song at least 1 time per day for a week so you can continue to practice your Spanish comprehension skills (and your dance moves!)

 

Here’s Celia:

 

And here are the lyrics in Spanish and English:

La Vida es un Carnaval (Life is a Carnival)

Todo aquel
Anyone who

Que piense que la vida es desigual
Who thinks that life is unequal

Tiene que saber que no es así
Has to know it’s not like that

Que la vida es una hermosura
That life is a beauty

Hay que vivirla
It must be lived

Todo aquel
Anyone who

Que piense que está solo y que está mal
Who thinks they’re alone and not well

Tiene que saber que no es así
Has to know it’s not like that

Que en la vida no hay nadie solo
That in life no one is alone

Siempre hay alguien
There is always someone

Ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Oh, no crying (no crying)

Que la vida es un carnaval
That life is a carnival

Que es más bello vivir cantando
That it is more beautiful to live singing

Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Oh oh oh ay, no crying (no crying)

Que la vida es una carnaval
That life is a carnival

Y las penas se van cantando
And the sorrows go away by singing

Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Oh oh oh ay, no crying (no crying)

Que la vida es un carnaval
That life is a carnival

Que es más bello vivir cantando
That it is more beautiful to live singing

Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Oh oh oh ay, no crying (no crying)

Que la vida es un carnaval
That life is a carnival

Y las penas se van cantado
And the sorrows go away by singing

Todo aquel
Everyone who

Que piense que la vida siempre es cruel
Who things that life is always cruel

Tiene que saber que no es así
Must know it’s not like that

Que tan solo hay momentos malos
That there are only bad times

Y todo pasa
And everything goes away

Todo aquel
Everyone who

Que piense que esto nunca va cambiar
Who thinks this will never change

Tiene que saber que no es así
You have to know it’s not like that

Que al mal tiempo, buena cara
That in bad times, you keep a good face

Y todo cambia
And everything changes

Ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Oh, no crying (no crying)

Que la vida es un carnaval
That life is a carnival

Que es más bello vivir cantando
That it is more beautiful to live singing

Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Oh oh oh ay, no crying (no crying)

Que la vida es una carnaval
That life is a carnival

Y las penas se van cantando
And the sorrows go away by singing

Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Oh oh oh ay, no crying (no crying)

Que la vida es un carnaval
That life is a carnival

Que es más bello vivir cantando
That it is more beautiful to live singing

Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Oh oh oh ay, no crying (no crying)

Que la vida es un carnaval
That life is a carnival

And the sorrows are sung
And the sorrows go away by singing

es para reír
it’s something to laugh about

(No hay que llorar) para gozar
(You don’t have to cry) to enjoy

(Carnaval) para disfrutar
(Carnival) to enjoy

(Hay que vivir cantando)
(You have to live singing)

(Carnaval) la vida es un carnaval
(Carnival) life is a carnival

(No hay que llorar) todos podemos cantar
(No need to cry) we can all sing

(Carnaval) ay señores
(Carnival) oh gentlemen

(Hay que vivir cantando)
(You have to live singing)

(Carnaval) todo aquel que piense
(Carnival) everyone who thinks

(No hay que llorar) que la vida es cruel
(There is no need to cry) that life is cruel

(Carnaval) nunca estará solo
(Carnival) will never be alone

(Hay que vivir cantando) Dios está con él
(You have to live singing) God is with him

Para aquellos que se quejan tanto (bua)
For those who complain so much (bua)

Para aquellos que solo critican (bua)
For those who only criticize (bua)

Para aquellos que usan las armas (bua)
For those who use weapons (bua)

Para aquellos que nos contaminen (bua)
For those who contaminate us (bua)

Para aquellos que hacen la guerra (bua)
For those who make war (bua)

Para aquellos que viven pecando (bua)
For those who live sinning (bua)

Para aquellos que nos maltratan (bua)
For those who mistreat us (bua)

Para aquellos que nos contagian (bua)
For those who infect us (bua)

 

I hope you had fun with this song. Please share this article with your friends on social media so they can also practice their Spanish.

…and as Celia would say:

¡¡¡AZÚCAR!!!

Spanish Songs with Translations – “Amigo” by Roberto Carlos

In this post we will review a sentimental song by Roberto Carlos, a Brazilian singer known throughout Latin America who has sold more than 150 million records during his career. The song is titled “Amigo” and it’s about a conversation between 2 friends where one of them tells the other how much he appreciates him.

This song is a good opportunity to practice your listening skills, as well as the use of granmatical genders of nouns, as it happens in the word “Amigo” which is a masculine noun.

First, I suggest you play the video you’ll find below these paragraphs so you can listen to the song while reading the lyrics one full time.

Second, click play once again and scroll down so you can read the translated lyrics in the sections you didn’t understand the first time.

Third, listen to the song once again without reading the lyrics. Continue to listen to the song several times throughout the week so you can continue to practice your listening skills (and your singing!)

Here’s a clip where you can listen to the song “Amigo” by Roberto Carlos

 

Now, let’s review the lyrics in Spanish with English translations:

“Amigo” (Friend) by Roberto Carlos

Tú eres mi hermano del alma, realmente el amigo (You are my soul brother, my true friend)

Que en todo camino y jornada está siempre conmigo (Which on every road and journey is always with me)

Aunque eres un hombre aún tienes alma de niño (Although you are a man you still have a child’s soul)

Aquel que me da su amistad su respeto y cariño (He who gives me his friendship his respect and affection)

Recuerdo que juntos pasamos muy duros momentos (I remember that together we went through very hard times)

Y tú no cambiaste por fuertes que fueran los vientos (And you didn’t change no matter how strong the winds were)

Es tu corazón una casa de puertas abiertas (Your heart is an open house)

Tú eres realmente el más cierto en horas inciertas (You truly are the most dependable in uncertain times)

En ciertos momentos difíciles que hay en la vida (In certain difficult moments in life)

Buscamos a quien nos ayude a encontrar la salida (We are looking for someone to help us find the way out)

Y aquella palabra de fuerza y de fe que me has dado (And that word of strength and faith that you have given me)

Me da la certeza que siempre estuviste a mi lado (Gives me the certainty that you were always by my side)

Tú eres el amigo del alma que en toda jornada (You are my soul friend who in every journey)

Sonrisa y abrazo festivo a cada llegada (Smile and festive hug on each arrival)

Me dices verdades tan grandes con frases abiertas (You tell me such great truths with open phrases)

Tú eres realmente el más cierto en horas inciertas (You truly are the most dependable in uncertain times)

No preciso ni decir (I don’t even have to say)
Todo eso que te digo (All that I tell you)
Pero es bueno así sentir (But it’s good to feel that way)
Que eres tú mi gran amigo (That you are my great friend)

No preciso ni decir (I don’t even have to say)
Todo eso que te digo (All that I tell you)
Pero es bueno así sentir (But it’s good to feel that way)
Que eres tú mi gran amigo (That you are my great friend)

No preciso ni decir (I don’t even have to say)
Todo eso que te digo (All that I tell you)
Pero es bueno así sentir (But it’s good to feel that way)
Que eres tú mi gran amigo (That you are my great friend)

No preciso ni decir (I don’t even have to say)
Todo eso que te digo (All that I tell you)
Pero es bueno así sentir (But it’s good to feel that way)
Que eres tú mi gran amigo (That you are my great friend)

No preciso ni decir (I don’t even have to say)
Todo eso que te digo (All that I tell you)
Pero es bueno así sentir (But it’s good to feel that way)
Que eres tú mi gran amigo (That you are my great friend)

No preciso ni decir (I don’t even have to say)
Todo eso que te digo (All that I tell you)
Pero es bueno así sentir (But it’s good to feel that way)
Que eres tú mi gran amigo (That you are my great friend)

As a final step, listen to the song one more time without reading the lyrics over here:

Good job! That’s enough for today. Please share this post on Facebook so your friends can also get to practice their Spanish (¡Gracias!) =)

Songs in Spanish with English Translations: “Yo No Naci Para Amar” by Juan Gabriel

In this post we will review a slow ballad by the famous Mexican singer songwriter Juan Gabriel so you can practice your listening Spanish skills.

.

First, I suggest you play the video you’ll find below these paragraphs so you can listen to the song while reading the lyrics one full time.

Second, click play once again and scroll down so you can read the translated lyrics in the sections you didn’t understand the first time.

Third, listen to the song once again without reading the lyrics. Continue to listen to the song several times throughout the week so you can continue to practice your listening skills (and your singing!)

.

You can listen to “Yo No Naci Para Amar” by Juan Gabriel over here:

.

Now, let’s review the lyrics in Spanish with English translations:

.

“Yo No Naci Para Amar” (I was not Born to Love):

A mis dieciseis anhelaba tanto un amor que no llegó
(When I was sixteen I longed so much for a love that did not arrive)

Siempre lo esperé
(I always waited for it)

Todos mis amigos se encontraban en la misma situación
(All my friends were in the same situation)

Y después yo vi como iban cambiando su manera de vivir
(and later I saw how they were changing their way of living)

Todos con su amor, cada uno de ellos
(All of them with their love, each one of them)

Muy sonrientes muy felices
(Very smiley, very happy)

Menos yo
(Except me)

Y la soledad
(and the loneliness)

Cada vez más triste, y más oscura yo viví
(Each time sadder, and darker I lived)

Y a esa edad
(And at that age)

Todos preguntaban los motivos
(Everyone asked for the reasons)

Yo solia siempre decir
(I always used to say)

Yo no nací para amar
(I was not born to love)

Nadie nació para mí
(Nobody was born for me)

Tan solo fui
(I was just)

Un loco soñador nomás
(Only a crazy dreamer)

Yo no nací para amar
(I was not born to love)

Nadie nació para mí
(Nobody was born for me)

Mis sueños nunca
(My dreams never)

Se volvieron realidad
(Became a reality)

Siempre lo busqué pero, nunca pude encontrar ese amor
(I always searched for it but, could never find that love)

Siempre lo esperé y en todas partes que esperaba
(I always waited for it and everyone I was waiting for it)

Ese amor nunca llegó
(That love never arrived)

Hoy mi soledad cada vez más triste
(Today my loneliness, sadder every time)

Y más oscura pueden ver
(And darker as you can see)

Hoy en esta edad aún me preguntan mis amigos
(Today at this age my friends still ask me)

Y es tan triste responder
(And answering is so sad)

Yo no nací para amar
(I was not born to love)

Nadie nació para mí
(Nobody was born for me)

Tan solo fui
(I was just)

Un loco soñador nomás
(Only a crazy dreamer)

Yo no nací para amar
(I was not born to love)

Nadie nació para mí
(Nobody was born for me)

Mis sueños nunca
(My dreams never)

Se volvieron realidad
(Became a reality)

Yo no nací para amar
(I was not born to love)

Nadie nació para mí
(Nobody was born for me)

Tan solo fui
(I was just)

Un loco soñador nomás
(Only a crazy dreamer)

Yo no nací para amar
(I was not born to love)

Nadie nació para mí
(Nobody was born for me)

Mis sueños no se realizaron
(My dreams never realized)

Yo no nací para amar
(I was not born to love)

Finally, go ahead and listen to the song one more time without reading the lyrics over here:

“Yo No Naci Para Amar” by Juan Gabriel:

Well done! That’s all for today. Please share this post on Facebook so your friends also get to practice their Spanish (¡Gracias!) =)

Shortcuts to talk about the Future in Spanish – Part 1 (Podcast) – LSFB 019

In this session we will learn a few easy tools beginners can use to talk about the future and avoid having to conjugate all verbs in the future tense in Spanish.

In fact, this is used by native speakers everyday when they talk about their plans (I use it all the time!)

It is one easiest ways to talk about the future in Spanish without having to learn lots of conjugations. You can listen to the podcast session here:

Download your PDF Transcript

At the beginning of this post, you will find an audio player you can use to listen to the episode, and you can download a PDF Transcript right here:

This is the link you can use to get your transcript (right click and “Save” or “Download”): PDF Transcript

Want a Quickstart Guide to talk about the Future?

Here’s a quick guide to talk about the future in Spanish without having to struggle with the future tense conjugations.

To access the complete guide with shortcuts to talk about the future easily you can visit this page: Quick Guide to Talk about the Future

Coco’s trailer in English and Spanish – Movies in Spanish for Kids

“Coco” is an animated adventure that unfolds within the context of “El Día de Muertos” (The Day of the Dead” and it is a great way to practice you Spanish listening skills.

 

In this post, we will go over the movie’s trailer in English and Spanish so you can practice your comprehension.

Continue reading “Coco’s trailer in English and Spanish – Movies in Spanish for Kids”

Spanish Songs with Lyrics – Shakira’s Día de Enero translated into English

Día de Enero (Day of January) is a slow and beautiful song by Shakira, the Colombian wonder from Barranquilla.

Although this song is not as famous as some of her other hits, its slow tunes make it a great resource to practice Spanish comprehension.

Continue reading “Spanish Songs with Lyrics – Shakira’s Día de Enero translated into English”

Spanish songs Translated to English: Mi Tierra Veracruzana by Natalia Lafourcade

Songs are a great way to practice Spanish, and today we’ll review a beautiful song by Natalia Lafourcade titled: “Mi Tierra Veracruzana” This is such an innocent and joyful song, of someone who misses the scents and rhythms from her hometown.

Natalia grew up in Veracruz and this is a love letter bathed in melancholy and appreciation for her home state.

Continue reading “Spanish songs Translated to English: Mi Tierra Veracruzana by Natalia Lafourcade”

Songs in Spanish Translated to English: La Chica Plastica by Ruben Blades and Willie Colon

Listening to songs in Spanish is a fun way to practice listening skills and loosen your hips as you dance your way into fluency =)

Here’s a great song by Rubén Blades and Willie Colón. The song’s title is “Plástico” and it’s often known as “Chica Plástica” Continue reading “Songs in Spanish Translated to English: La Chica Plastica by Ruben Blades and Willie Colon”

Un Lugar by Elastic Bond (Songs with Lyrics in Spanish and English)

Elastic Bond is a really interesting band from Miami who embraces its Latin American heritage in original and insightful ways that set them apart from the rest.

“Un Lugar” is a unique track from their fourth album titled “Honey Bun” and today we’ll review it as a tool to practice your listening and comprehension skills in Spanish.

Continue reading “Un Lugar by Elastic Bond (Songs with Lyrics in Spanish and English)”