“Juramento eterno de sal” is a song by Spanish pop singer Álvaro de Luna. It was released in Novemeber of 2020, and appears on his first studio album Levantaremos al sol, which was released in February of 2022. The single has spent 64 weeks on the Spanish singles chart, peaking at number 20. It also topped the 2021 annual radio hits chart.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘juramento eterno de sal’ – The name of this song translates as ‘eternal oath of salt’. When asked what this means in an interview with Spanish publication Status of Empire, the singer’s response (translation is mine) was “They are like grains of sand. ‘Juramento eterno de sal’ refers to all those promises that are made at any given time in life and that have meaning.”

‘pasar’ vs ‘pasarse’ – The two forms are often used with little or no change in meaning, However, use of the reflexive form sometimes suggests that the action was surprising, sudden, or unwanted.

‘inventar’ vs ‘inventarse’ – These two phrases share the same meaning of ‘ to invent’. However, when referring to intangible things, such as an idea, an excuse or a story, the pronominal form is more commonly used in spoken Spanish.

‘en vela’ – This phrase means ‘awake’, ‘sleepless’ or ‘to have a sleepless night’. It translates literally as ‘in candle’.

‘Portugal’ – This is a southern European country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain and the Atlantic Ocean.

‘volver a + infinitive’ – Translating literally as ‘to return to’, this phrase means ‘to do again’. In this song, the example we see is ‘vuelvas a extrañar’ meaning ‘you miss again’.

‘ir a’ – The verb ‘ir’ means ‘to go’. As in English, when this verb is used with a place, it implies movement towards that place. But when it is used with another verb, it implies that that action will be preformed in the future. For example ‘I am going to the store’ ‘(voy a la tienda’) vs ‘I am going to eat’ (‘voy a comer’).

‘de nuevo’ – This phrase means ‘again’ or ‘once again’. It translates literally as ‘of new’.

‘echar de menos’ – This phrase means ‘to miss’, ‘to notice something is missing’, or ‘to not be able to find something’. Its literal translation would be something like ‘to throw less of something’, which likely seems odd to you. The reason is that this phrase originally comes from a Galician-Portuguese idiom ‘achar de menos’, which means ‘to feel an absence’, or literally ‘to find less of something’. When the phrase was adopted into Spanish, rather than using the verb ‘hallar’ which means ‘to find’, the verb ‘echar’ meaning ‘to throw’ was used due to its similar pronunciation to ‘achar’.

Activities

We’ve created flashcards, games, and exercises to practice vocabulary and grammatical concepts found in this song. Check out our Activities Page to take your learning further!

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Juramentojuramentooath | noun | masc sing eternoeternoeverlasting, eternal | adj | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep salsalsalt; spark, animation, vivacity | noun | fem sing

[Verse 1]
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex pasopasarto go ahead, proceed; cross; pass; happen | verb, reg | first pers sing pres laslasthe | art, def | fem pl nochesnochenight | noun | fem pl enenin, on, during | prep velavelacandle; sail | noun | fem sing | en vela = awake, sleepless, have a sleepless night
Escriboescribirto write | verb, reg | first pers sing pres tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing nombrenombrename | noun | masc sing enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | adj, poss | masc and fem sing cabezacabezahead | noun | fem sing
Desnudodesnudarto undress, strip | verb, reg | first pers sing pres laslasthe | art, def | fem pl horashorahour; time | noun | fem pl quequethat, than; because | conj quedanquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb, reg | third pers pl pres
Dibujodibujarto draw, sketch | verb, reg | first pers sing pres tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing cuerpocuerpobody | noun | masc sing enenin, on, during | prep unaunaa, an | art, indef | fem sing servilletaservilletanapkin; type of cheese | noun | fem sing

[Verse 2]
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex inventoinventarto invent, make up, concoct | verb, reg | first pers sing pres ununa | art, indef | masc sing mundomundoworld | noun | masc sing paraparafor, to, in order to | prep quequethat, than; because | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex pierdasperderto lose | verb, stm chg | sec pers sing subj | perderse = get lost
Quieroquererto want | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres vertever + teto see + you | verb, irreg + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj soñarsoñarto dream | verb, stm chg | infin bajobajobeneath, under, below | prep laslasthe | art, def | fem pl estrellasestrellastar | noun | fem pl
Quieroquererto want | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres serserto be | verb, irreg | infin enenin, on, during | prep tustusyour | adj, poss | masc and fem pl labioslabioslipps, mouth | noun | masc pl centinelacentinelaguard, sentinel, watch, lookout | noun | masc or fem sing

[Chorus]
Yyand | conj volveránvolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | third pers pl fut laslasthe | art, def | fem pl ganasganadesire, interest, urge | noun | fem pl dedefrom, of | prep bailarbailarto dance | verb, reg | infin
Aquellasaquellosthose (over there) | pron | fem pl nochesnochenight | noun | fem pl locaslococrazy | adj | fem pl recorriendorecorrerto traverse, go across/through/over; look over/around | verb, reg | ger PortugalPortugalPortugal | noun, prop | masc sing | country name
Nononot | adv dejarédejarto let, allow; to leave | verb, reg | first pers sing fut quequethat, than; because | conj vuelvasvolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | sec pers sing subj | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep extrañarextrañarsurprise, puzzle; miss | verb, reg | infin
Loslosthe | art, def | masc pl besosbesokiss | noun | masc pl quequethat, than; because | conj nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves, each other | pron | first pers pl, dir obj, indir obj, reflex dimos,darto give | verb, irreg | first pers pl pret prometiеndoprometerto promise | verb, reg | ger nononot | adv olvidarolvidarto forget | verb, reg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex perderéperderto lose | verb, stm chg | first pers sing fut еnenin, inside; on, on top of; for, at, during; by, in the, on | prep tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing bocabocamouth | noun | fem sing unaunaa, an | art, indef | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing másmásmore, plus | adv
Fundiendofundirto melt; cast; break | verb, reg | ger nuestrosnuestroour | adj, poss | masc pl cuerposcuerpobody | noun | masc pl comocomolike, as, since | adv elelthe | art, def | masc sing solsolsun | noun | masc sing ala + elto the | prep + def art despertardespertarto wake up; come to one's senses | verb, stm chg | infin
Juramentojuramentooath | noun | masc sing eternoeternoeverlasting, eternal | adj | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep salsalsalt; spark, animation, vivacity | noun | fem sing

[Verse 3]
Yayanow, already | adv sésaberto know | verb irreg | first pers sing pres quequethat, than; because | conj vasirto go | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep quererquererto want; to love | verb, stm chg | infin vermever + meto see + me | verb, irreg + pron | infin dedefrom, of | prep nuevonuevonew, brand new; latest | adj | masc sing | de nuevo = again, once again
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub sésaberto know | verb irreg | first pers sing pres quequethat, than; because | conj tustusyour | adj, poss | masc and fem pl labioslabioslips, mouth | noun | masc pl nononot | adv sonserto be | verb, irreg | third pers pl pres carameloscaramelocandy, sweet; caramel | noun | masc pl
Yayanow, already | adv verásverto see | verb, irreg | sec pers sing fut cómocómohow, why | adv vasirto go | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep echarmeecharthrow, toss; drop; throw out, kick out; fire, expel; tilt, lean; give off, emit | verb, reg + pron | infin + first pers sing | echar de menos = miss, notice sth is missing, not be able to find sth dedefrom, of | prep menosmenosless | adv | | echar de menos = miss, notice sth is missing, not be able to find sth
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub seréserto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing fut quiénquiénwho, whom | pron | interr cumplacumplirto accomplish, achieve, fulfill | verb, reg | third pers sing subj tustusyour | adj, poss | masc and fem pl deseosdeseowish, desire | noun | masc pl

[Chorus]
Yyand | conj volveránvolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | third pers pl fut laslasthe | art, def | fem pl ganasganadesire, interest, urge | noun | fem pl dedefrom, of | prep bailarbailarto dance | verb, reg | infin
Aquellasaquellosthose (over there) | pron | fem pl nochesnochenight | noun | fem pl locaslococrazy | adj | fem pl recorriendorecorrerto traverse, go across/through/over; look over/around | verb, reg | ger PortugalPortugalPortugal | noun, prop | masc sing | country name
Nononot | adv dejarédejarto let, allow; to leave | verb, reg | first pers sing fut quequethat, than; because | conj vuelvasvolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | sec pers sing subj | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep extrañarextrañarsurprise, puzzle; miss | verb, reg | infin
Loslosthe | art, def | masc pl besosbesokiss | noun | masc pl quequethat, than; because | conj nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves, each other | pron | first pers pl, dir obj, indir obj, reflex dimos,darto give | verb, irreg | first pers pl pret prometiеndoprometerto promise | verb, reg | ger nononot | adv olvidarolvidarto forget | verb, reg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex perderéperderto lose | verb, stm chg | first pers sing fut еnenin, inside; on, on top of; for, at, during; by, in the, on | prep tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing bocabocamouth | noun | fem sing unaunaa, an | art, indef | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing másmásmore, plus | adv
Fundiendofundirto melt; cast; break | verb, reg | ger nuestrosnuestroour | adj, poss | masc pl cuerposcuerpobody | noun | masc pl comocomolike, as, since | adv elelthe | art, def | masc sing solsolsun | noun | masc sing ala + elto the | prep + def art despertardespertarto wake up; come to one's senses | verb, stm chg | infin
Juramentojuramentooath | noun | masc sing eternoeternoeverlasting, eternal | adj | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep salsalsalt; spark, animation, vivacity | noun | fem sing

Yyand | conj volveránvolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | third pers pl fut laslasthe | art, def | fem pl ganasganadesire, interest, urge | noun | fem pl dedefrom, of | prep bailarbailarto dance | verb, reg | infin
Aquellasaquellosthose (over there) | pron | fem pl nochesnochenight | noun | fem pl locaslococrazy | adj | fem pl recorriendorecorrerto traverse, go across/through/over; look over/around | verb, reg | ger PortugalPortugalPortugal | noun, prop | masc sing | country name
Nononot | adv dejarédejarto let, allow; to leave | verb, reg | first pers sing fut quequethat, than; because | conj vuelvasvolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | sec pers sing subj | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep extrañarextrañarsurprise, puzzle; miss | verb, reg | infin
Loslosthe | art, def | masc pl besosbesokiss | noun | masc pl quequethat, than; because | conj nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves, each other | pron | first pers pl, dir obj, indir obj, reflex dimos,darto give | verb, irreg | first pers pl pret prometiеndoprometerto promise | verb, reg | ger nononot | adv olvidarolvidarto forget | verb, reg | infin
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex perderéperderto lose | verb, stm chg | first pers sing fut еnenin, inside; on, on top of; for, at, during; by, in the, on | prep tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing bocabocamouth | noun | fem sing unaunaa, an | art, indef | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing másmásmore, plus | adv
Fundiendofundirto melt; cast; break | verb, reg | ger nuestrosnuestroour | adj, poss | masc pl cuerposcuerpobody | noun | masc pl comocomolike, as, since | adv elelthe | art, def | masc sing solsolsun | noun | masc sing ala + elto the | prep + def art despertardespertarto wake up; come to one's senses | verb, stm chg | infin
Juramentojuramentooath | noun | masc sing eternoeternoeverlasting, eternal | adj | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep salsalsalt; spark, animation, vivacity | noun | fem sing
Juramentojuramentooath | noun | masc sing eternoeternoeverlasting, eternal | adj | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep salsalsalt; spark, animation, vivacity | noun | fem sing
Juramentojuramentooath | noun | masc sing eternoeternoeverlasting, eternal | adj | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep salsalsalt; spark, animation, vivacity | noun | fem sing

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Juramento eterno de sal
Eternal oath of salt

[Verse 1]
Me paso las noches en vela
I spend my nights awake
Escribo tu nombre en mi cabeza
I write your name in my head
Desnudo las horas que quedan
I strip the remaining hours
Dibujo tu cuerpo en una servilleta
I draw your body on a napkin

[Verse 2]
Me invento un mundo para que te pierdas
I make up a world for you to get lost in
Quiero verte soñar bajo las estrellas
I want pto see you dream under the stars
Quiero ser en tus labios centinela
I want to be the guard of your lips

[Chorus]
Y volverán las ganas de bailar
And the desire to dance will return
Aquellas noches locas recorriendo Portugal
Those crazy nights running around Portugal
No dejaré que vuelvas a extrañar
I won’t let you miss again
Los besos que nos dimos, prometiеndo no olvidar
The kisses we gave each other, promising not to forget
Me perderé еn tu boca una vez más
I’ll get lost in your mouth one more time
Fundiendo nuestros cuerpos como el sol al despertar
Melting our bodies like the sun upon awakening
Juramento eterno de sal
Eternal oath of salt

[Verse 3]
Ya sé que vas a querer verme de nuevo
I already know you’re going to want to see me again
Yo sé que tus labios no son caramelos
I know your lips aren’t candy
Ya verás cómo vas a echarme de menos
You’ll see how you’re going to miss me
Yo seré quién cumpla tus deseos
I’ll be the one to fulfill your wishes

[Chorus]
Y volverán las ganas de bailar
And the desire to dance will return
Aquellas noches locas recorriendo Portugal
Those crazy nights running around Portugal
No dejaré que vuelvas a extrañar
I won’t let you miss again
Los besos que nos dimos, prometiеndo no olvidar
The kisses we gave each other, promising not to forget
Me perderé еn tu boca una vez más
I’ll get lost in your mouth one more time
Fundiendo nuestros cuerpos como el sol al despertar
Melting our bodies like the sun upon awakening
Juramento eterno de sal
Eternal oath of salt

Y volverán las ganas de bailar
And the desire to dance will return
Aquellas noches locas recorriendo Portugal
Those crazy nights running around Portugal
No dejaré que vuelvas a extrañar
I won’t let you miss again
Los besos que nos dimos, prometiеndo no olvidar
The kisses we gave each other, promising not to forget
Me perderé еn tu boca una vez más
I’ll get lost in your mouth one more time
Fundiendo nuestros cuerpos como el sol al despertar
Melting our bodies like the sun upon awakening
Juramento eterno de sal
Eternal oath of salt
Juramento eterno de sal
Eternal oath of salt
Juramento eterno de sal
Eternal oath of salt

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • Escribo tu nombre en mi cabeza
  • Dibujo tu cuerpo en una servilleta
  • Quiero ser en tus labios centinela
  • Me perderé еn tu boca una vez más
  • Fundiendo nuestros cuerpos como el sol al despertar
  • Yo sé que tus labios no son caramelos
  • Yo seré quién cumpla tus deseos

• Object Pronouns:
  • Ya sé que vas a querer verme de nuevo
  • Ya verás cómo vas a echarme de menos

• Reflexive Pronouns:
  • Me paso las noches en vela
  • Me invento un mundo para que te pierdas
  • Los besos que nos dimos, prometiеndo no olvidar

• Irregular Verbs:
  • saber:
    • Ya sé que vas a querer verme de nuevo
    • Yo sé que tus labios no son caramelos
  • ir:
    • Ya sé que vas a querer verme de nuevo
    • Ya verás cómo vas a echarme de menos
  • ser:
    • Yo sé que tus labios no son caramelos
• Stem-Changing Verbs:
  • querer (e >ie):
    • Quiero verte soñar bajo las estrellas
    • Quiero ser en tus labios centinela

• Near Future (ir a + infinitive):
  • Ya sé que vas a querer verme de nuevo
  • Ya verás cómo vas a echarme de menos

• Reflexive/Pronominal Verbs:
  • Me paso las noches en vela
  • Me invento un mundo para que te pierdas
  • Los besos que nos dimos, prometiеndo no olvidar

• Gerund:
  • Aquellas noches locas recorriendo Portugal
  • Los besos que nos dimos, prometiеndo no olvidar
  • Fundiendo nuestros cuerpos como el sol al despertar

• Future:
  • Y volverán las ganas de bailar
  • No dejaré que vuelvas a extrañar
  • Me perderé еn tu boca una vez más
  • Ya verás cómo vas a echarme de menos
  • Yo seré quién cumpla tus deseos

• Preterite:
  • Los besos que nos dimos, prometiеndo no olvidar

• Subjunctive:
  • Me invento un mundo para que te pierdas
  • No dejaré que vuelvas a extrañar
  • Yo seré quién cumpla tus deseos