Updated on December 15, 2023
5 great Spanglish pop songs to help you learn Spanish
Some of the best things that come from the interaction between Spanish and English-speaking communities are the countless Spanglish pop songs we can belt out! And Spanglish music isn’t only good for sing-alongs in the car or during nights out; it’s also a fantastic tool to help us practice our Spanish.
Yep! Learning a new language doesn’t have to be a daunting task filled with grammar books and endless word lists. In fact, we can significantly improve our language skills by watching movies or listening to podcasts and music in the language we’re learning!
So, get your headphones out and explore with us some of the most popular English-Spanish songs to help boost your Spanish skills.
When learning Spanish, it’s essential to surround yourself with as much Spanish-speaking media as possible. This will speed up your journey on the path towards fluency. However, if you’re not yet ready for Spanish-only content, you can always turn to Spanglish music (a mix of Spanish and English-speaking lyrics) to start out.
But how, exactly, can music help you learn Spanish? Well, listening to native Spanish speakers can aid you in identifying and absorbing all those elements of pronunciation that you might otherwise miss – syllable stress, intonation and natural cadence. Additionally, you can learn plenty of vocabulary through song lyrics, including slang and common sentence structures.
The best part? You can replay a song as many times as we want, which allows you to focus on the bits you need to practice.
We’ve come up with a list of great popular English-Spanish songs that can help you improve your Spanish –and perhaps get your groove on too!
Kali is a Colombian-American singer who began her career singing exclusively in English, but it wasn’t until the release of her first Spanish-language project Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) that she jumped into the mainstream. Sin Miedo (2021) gave us the absolute smash Telepatía, which we’re sure you’ve stumbled upon quite a few times!
Telepatía features simple lyrics, and Kali’s soothing diction is easy to follow, making this song an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate learners.
You know I’m just a flight away
If you want it, you can take a private plane
A kilómetros estamos conectando (We’re connecting from kilometers away)
Y me prendes aunque no me estés tocando (And you turn me on even if you’re not touching me)
Bailamos, by the legendary Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias, became an instant classic when it was released way back in 1999. However, we can guarantee it still hits all the right notes. It’s catchy, fun and will have you believing you’re dancing the night away in Ibiza, even if just for three sweet minutes.
This song is perfect for beginners. The majority of the lyrics are in English, and the vocabulary in the Spanish chorus is uncomplicated. It will take you ten seconds to learn and may, perhaps, bring you a lifetime of happiness.
Gonna live this night forever
Bailamos (We dance)
Te quiero amor mío, te quiero (I love you my love, I love you)
Speaking of catchy, this list would not be complete without San-Juan-born superstar Luis Fonsi. Fonsi has been putting out hit after hit in Puerto Rico and the rest of Latin America since the late ‘90s, but has more recently risen to international fame. This has been partly due to powerhouse collaborations with English-speaking pop stars like Demi Lovato, who is featured in this song.
Échame la Culpa, released in 2018, is one of Fonsi’s most infectious tracks. Believe us when we say you’ll have a hard time not learning the lyrics.
No eres tú, no eres tú, no eres tú, soy yo (It’s not you, it’s not you, it’s not you, it’s me)
No te quiero hacer sufrir (I don’t want to make you suffer)
Es mejor olvidar y dejarlo así (It’s better to forget and leave it as it is)
Échame la culpa (Blame me)
Ok
I don’t really, really wanna fight anymore
I don’t really, really wanna fake it no more
Despacito is Fonsi’s biggest success, perhaps because it can get literally anyone to belt out the chorus deeees-paaa-cito! The moment we hear those first guitar notes (you know the ones) we are ready to sing along.
Despacito, ft. Daddy Yankee, was the hit that catapulted Fonsi to worldwide stardom in 2017. Later, it was revamped into a remix featuring Canadian superstar Justin Bieber. Bieber’s English-speaking interjections, intertwined with Fonsi’s and Yankee’s Spanish lyrics, undeniably cemented Despacito as one of the most popular English-Spanish songs of all time.
Baby, take it slow so we can last long
¡Oh! Tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal (Oh! You, you are the magnet and I’m the metal)
Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan (I am getting closer and hatching the plan)
This Jazz-infused 2023 collaboration between English virtual band Gorillaz and the unstoppable reggaetonero Bad Bunny may be unexpected, but we promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Bad Bunny’s rhythmic Spanish verses are the perfect match for Damon Albarn’s mellow vocals, and it’s all wrapped up in Gorillaz’s signature sound.
Given Bad Bunny’s fast-paced verses, Tormenta is best suited for those with intermediate Spanish proficiency.
Something is said
Someone crying
Ey, ey
Y aprovéchame hoy (And make the best of me today)
Que mañana me voy (Because tomorrow I’ll be gone)
Y no sé cuándo vuelvo (And I don’t know when I’ll be back)
Si en tus ojos me pierdo (If I get lost in your eyes)
You’ve got a solid list of Spanglish pop songs to help you develop your skills, but how can you get the most of it? Here are some tips:
Spanglish pop songs aren’t just ideal for long commutes and nights out dancing; they’re also fantastic for learning Spanish! Songs can aid in improving pronunciation, getting acquainted with the natural rhythm of a language and expanding your vocabulary. So, we hope this list is a great starting point in your Spanglish music journey. Trust us, there’s still much more to explore! We’re confident you’ll find the perfect beat.
