I love Shakira, but since she hasn’t released anything recently, she hasn’t made this site since the first song I posted. So I decided it was time to reach back a bit and get her on here again.

“Deja Vu” is a song by American singer Prince Royce and Colombian singer Shakira. It was released on February 24, 2017, and appears on Royce’s fifth studio album, Five, and on Shakira’s eleventh album El Dorado. It reached number one on the Billboard Tropical Airplay chart, number three on the Latin Airplay chart, and number four on the Hot Latin Songs chart. It won Song of the Year and Favorite Tropical Song at the 2017 Latin American Music Awards and Tropical Song of the Year at the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Song information from Wikipedia.

About the Artists

Prince Royce

Geoffrey Royce Rojas, who performs as Prince Royce, is a singer/ songwriter who was born in New York City, New York to Dominican parents. At fifteen he began making music as part of the duo “Jino and Royce, El Dúo Real” with José Chusán (“Jino”). He adopted the stage name “Prince Royce” at sixteen and started making music with Donzell Rodríguez and Vincent Outerbridge as “L Snipe & Vinny”. He released his first self-titled album in March of 2010, which reached number-one on the US Billboard Top Latin Albums and Tropical Albums charts and won Tropical Album of the Year at the 2011 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The album contained two successful singles, “Stand by Me” and “Corazón Sin Cara”. In the United States, both songs reached number-one on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart, while “Corazón Sin Cara” reached number-one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.

Since his first album, Prince Royce has seen continued success. Five of his six albums reached number one on the US Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and were certified platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He has won numerous awards, among them twenty Billboard Latin Music Awards, six Latin America Music Awards and nineteen Premios Lo Nuestro.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Shakira

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, who performs simply as Shakira, is a singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, record producer and philanthropist from Barranquilla Colombia. The name Shakira means ‘grateful’ in Arabic. She released her first album at 14. While her first two albums were unsuccessful, her third and fourth albums had success in Spanish-speaking countries. She gained international attention in 2001 with her fifth album, and her first English album, Laundry Service, which sold over 13 million copies. Two songs from this album, “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes” were international number-one singles. Since then her albums have all been certified gold, platinum, multi-platinum or diamante in various countries around the world, and she has had several songs that have reached number one in the charts in multiple countries. Her duet “Hips Don’t lie” with Wyclef Jean reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first South American artist to do so.

Shakira’s music awards include three Grammy Awards, twelve Latin Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards and forty-two Billboard Latin Music Awards. She is the woman with the most Billboard Latin Music Awards and was named the Top Female Latin Artist of the Decade in 2009 by Billboard. With 75 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the world’s best-selling music artists and is Spotify’s most-streamed Latin artist. Sony Music and Billboard named her the «Reina del pop Latino» (Queen of Latin Pop). She has also received numerous awards for her philanthropic work through her Pies Descalzos Foundation, including being named the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year in 2011.

Biographical information from Wikipedia (English and Spanish)

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘déjà vu’ – Commonly used in English, this is a French phrase that translates as ‘already seen’. It refers to a feeling of having already experienced the present situation.

‘limón’ – This term can refer to either a lemon or a lime, however, the reference to tequila leads me to believe that a lime is what is being referenced in this context.

‘olvidar’ vs ‘olvidarse’ – While some verbs require a reflexive pronoun, others can be used with or without a reflexive pronoun for a slightly different meaning. A common example of this is the verb ‘olvidar’. The reflexive usually implies that the forgetting is not the fault of the subject. ‘Olvido’ implies that it is my fault that I forgot, but ‘me olvido’ takes the fault off of me. It is just something that happened.

‘para que’ – This phrase means ‘so that’ or ‘in order that’, and is one of the phrases that will always be followed by the subjunctive.

‘volver a hacer’ – Translating literally as ‘to return to do’, this phrase means ‘to do again’.

‘ir a + infinitive’ – 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 in the infinitive it implies that that action will be performed in the future. For example ‘voy a la tienda’ (I am going to the store) vs ‘voy a comer’ (I am going to eat).

‘de nuevo’ – Literally translating as ‘of new’, this phrase means ‘again’ or ‘once again’.

‘dar por’ – Literally translating as ‘to give for’, this phrase means ‘to believe to be’, ‘to consider’ or ‘to regard as’.

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.

Dejadéjàalready, yet | adv | French vuvoirto see | verb | pp | French

[Verse 1]
Tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing abristeabrirto open | verb | sec pers sing pret laslasthe | def art | fem pl heridasheridawound | noun | fem pl
Quequethat, than | conj yayanow, already | adv dabadarto give | verb | first pers sing imperf | dar por = believe to be, consider, regard as porporfor; because of; by | prep | dar por = believe to be, consider, regard as curadascurarto treat, dress, heal; to tan; cure (meat) | verb | pp used as adj | fem pl
Conconwith | prep limón,limónlemon; lime | noun | masc sing tequilatequilatequila | noun | masc sing yyand | conj salsalsalt; spark, animation, vivacity | noun | fem sing
Unaunaa, an | indef art | fem sing historiahistoriahistory; story, tale | noun | fem sing repetidarepetirrepeate, do again; say again; have a second helping; imitate, mimic | verb | pp used as adj | fem sing
Solamentesolamenteonly, just | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing déjàdéjàalready, yet | adv | French vuvoirto see | verb | pp | French
Quequethat, than; because | conj nuncanuncanever | adv llegallegarto arrive, reach | verb | third pers sing pres aato, into, by | prep susuhis, her, its, their | poss adj | masc and fem sing finalfinalend, ending | noun | masc sing

[Pre-Chorus]
Mejormejorbetter; best | adj | masc and fem sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb | first pers sing pres solosoloalone | adv
Yyand | conj mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing olvidoolvidarto forget | verb | first pers sing pres dedefrom, of | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl cosascosathing | noun | fem, pl
Dedefrom, of | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl ojosojoeye | noun | masc pl
Mejormejorbetter; best | adj | masc and fem sing esquivoesquivarto dodge, avoid | verb | first pers sing pres elelthe | def art | masc sing polvopolvodust, powder | noun | masc sing
Nononot | adv quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres caercaerfall, fall down, collapse; catch on, realize | verb | infin dedefrom, of | prep | de nuevo = again, once again nuevonuevonew, brand new; latest | adj | masc sing | de nuevo = again, once again enenin, on, during | prep esaesethat | adj | fem sing fotofotophoto | noun | fem sing dedefrom, of | prep locuralocurainsanity, madness, dementia | noun | fem sing
Dedefrom, of | prep hipocresíahipocresíahypocrisy | noun | fem sing totaltotaltotal, complete | adj | masc and fem sing

[Chorus]
¿Quiénquiénwho, whom | pron | interr puedepoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing amor?amorlove | noun | masc sing
¿Yyand | conj defenderlo?defender + loto defend, protect; stand up for + it | verb + art | infin
Quequethat, than | conj levantelevantarto raise, lift; pick up, stand up | verb | third pers sing impera lalathe | def art | fem sing mano,manohand | noun | fem sing porporfor; because of; by | prep | por favor = please favorfavorfavor | noun | masc sing | por favor = please
¿Quiénquiénwho, whom | pron | interr puedepoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing dolor?dolorpain, sorrow, grief | noun | masc sing
Pagarpagarto pay | verb | infin lalathe | def art | fem sing fianzafianzabail, bond; deposit | noun | fem sing
Pa’parafor, to, in order to | prep | shortened to pa' in colloquial speech | para que = so that quequethat, than | conj | para que = so that salgasalirleave; come from | verb | third pers sing subj dedefrom, of | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing
Sisiif | conj alguienalguienanyone, someone | pron vairto go | verb | third pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter aseguroasegurarsecure; claim; insure; guarantee, assure | verb | first pers sing pres
Esaesethat | adj | fem sing nononot | adv voyirto go | verb | first pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep serserto be | verb | infin yoyoI | pron | first pers sing
Esaesethat | adj | fem sing nononot | adv voyirto go | verb | first pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep serserto be | verb | infin yoyoI | pron | first pers sing

[Verse 2]
Estaestethis | adj | fem sing ideaideaidea; concept; impression; thought | noun | fem sing recurrenterecurrenterecurring, recurrent | adj | masc and fem sing
Quierequererto want | verb | third pers sing pres jugarjugarto play | verb | infin conconwith | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing mentementemind | noun | fem sing
Pa’parafor, to, in order to | prep | shortened to pa' in colloquial speech volvermevolver + meto return, come back | verb | infin | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep engatusarengatusarto trick, con | verb | infin
Unaunaa, an | indef art | fem sing historiahistoriahistory; story, tale | noun | fem sing repetidarepetirrepeate, do again; say again; have a second helping; imitate, mimic | verb | pp used as adj | fem sing
Solamentesolamenteonly, just | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing déjàdéjàalready, yet | adv | French vuvoirto see | verb | pp | French
Quequethat, than; because | conj nuncanuncanever | adv llegallegarto arrive, reach | verb | third pers sing pres aato, into, by | prep susuhis, her, its, their | poss adj | masc and fem sing finalfinalend, ending | noun | masc sing

[Pre-Chorus]
Mejormejorbetter; best | adj | masc and fem sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quedoquedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb | first pers sing pres solosoloalone | adv
Yyand | conj mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing olvidoolvidarto forget | verb | first pers sing pres dedefrom, of | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl cosascosathing | noun | fem, pl
Dedefrom, of | prep tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl ojosojoeye | noun | masc pl
Mejormejorbetter; best | adj | masc and fem sing esquivoesquivarto dodge, avoid | verb | first pers sing pres elelthe | def art | masc sing polvopolvodust, powder | noun | masc sing
Nononot | adv quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres caercaerfall, fall down, collapse; catch on, realize | verb | infin dedefrom, of | prep | de nuevo = again, once again nuevonuevonew, brand new; latest | adj | masc sing | de nuevo = again, once again enenin, on, during | prep esaesethat | adj | fem sing fotofotophoto | noun | fem sing dedefrom, of | prep locuralocurainsanity, madness, dementia | noun | fem sing
Dedefrom, of | prep hipocresíahipocresíahypocrisy | noun | fem sing totaltotaltotal, complete | adj | masc and fem sing

[Chorus]
¿Quiénquiénwho, whom | pron | interr puedepoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing amor?amorlove | noun | masc sing
¿Yyand | conj defenderlo?defender + loto defend, protect; stand up for + it | verb + art | infin
Quequethat, than | conj levantelevantarto raise, lift; pick up, stand up | verb | third pers sing impera lalathe | def art | fem sing mano,manohand | noun | fem sing porporfor; because of; by | prep | por favor = please favorfavorfavor | noun | masc sing | por favor = please
¿Quiénquiénwho, whom | pron | interr puedepoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing dolor?dolorpain, sorrow, grief | noun | masc sing
Pagarpagarto pay | verb | infin lalathe | def art | fem sing fianzafianzabail, bond; deposit | noun | fem sing
Pa’parafor, to, in order to | prep | shortened to pa' in colloquial speech | para que = so that quequethat, than | conj | para que = so that salgasalirleave; come from | verb | third pers sing subj dedefrom, of | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing
Sisiif | conj alguienalguienanyone, someone | pron vairto go | verb | third pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter aseguroasegurarsecure; claim; insure; guarantee, assure | verb | first pers sing pres

[Chorus]
¿Quiénquiénwho, whom | pron | interr puedepoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing amor?amorlove | noun | masc sing
¿Yyand | conj defenderlo?defender + loto defend, protect; stand up for + it | verb + art | infin
Quequethat, than | conj levantelevantarto raise, lift; pick up, stand up | verb | third pers sing impera lalathe | def art | fem sing mano,manohand | noun | fem sing porporfor; because of; by | prep | por favor = please favorfavorfavor | noun | masc sing | por favor = please
¿Quiénquiénwho, whom | pron | interr puedepoderto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing dolor?dolorpain, sorrow, grief | noun | masc sing
Pagarpagarto pay | verb | infin lalathe | def art | fem sing fianzafianzabail, bond; deposit | noun | fem sing
Pa’parafor, to, in order to | prep | shortened to pa' in colloquial speech | para que = so that quequethat, than | conj | para que = so that salgasalirleave; come from | verb | third pers sing subj dedefrom, of | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing
Sisiif | conj alguienalguienanyone, someone | pron vairto go | verb | third pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep hablarhablarto speak | verb | infin delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter aseguroasegurarsecure; claim; insure; guarantee, assure | verb | first pers sing pres
Esaesethat | adj | fem sing nononot | adv voyirto go | verb | first pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep serserto be | verb | infin yoyoI | pron | first pers sing
Esaesethat | adj | fem sing nononot | adv voyirto go | verb | first pers sing pres | ir a + infin = to be going to do aato, into, by | prep serserto be | verb | infin yoyoI | pron | first pers sing

Lyrics with Translation

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

Deja vu
Deja vu

[Verse 1]
Tú me abriste las heridas
You opened my wounds
Que ya daba por curadas
That I thought were already healed
Con limón, tequila y sal
With lime, tequila and salt
Una historia repetida
A repeated story
Solamente un déjà vu
Only a deja vu
Que nunca llega a su final
That never comes to an end

[Pre-Chorus]
Mejor me quedo solo
Better for me to remain alone
Y me olvido de tus cosas
And to forget about your things
De tus ojos
About your eyes
Mejor esquivo el polvo
Better to dodge the dust
No quiero caer de nuevo en esa foto de locura
I don’t want to fall into that photo of insanity again
De hipocresía total
Of total hypocrisy

[Chorus]
¿Quién puede hablar del amor?
Who can talk about love?
¿Y defenderlo?
And stand up for it?
Que levante la mano, por favor
Raise your hand, please
¿Quién puede hablar del dolor?
Who can talk about pain?
Pagar la fianza
Pay the bail
Pa’ que salga de mi corazón
So that it comes out of my heart
Si alguien va a hablar del amor
If someone is going to talk about love
Te lo aseguro
I assure you
Esa no voy a ser yo
That’s not going to be me
Esa no voy a ser yo
That’s not going to be me

[Verse 2]
Esta idea recurrente
This recurring idea
Quiere jugar con mi mente
Wants to play with my mind
Pa’ volverme a engatusar
To trick me again
Una historia repetida
A repeated story
Solamente un déjà vu
Only a deja vu
Que nunca llega a su final
That never comes to an end

[Pre-Chorus]
Mejor me quedo solo
Better for me to remain alone
Y me olvido de tus cosas
And to forget about your things
De tus ojos
About your eyes
Mejor esquivo el polvo
Better to dodge the dust
No quiero caer de nuevo en esa foto de locura
I don’t want to fall into that photo of insanity again
De hipocresía total
Of total hypocrisy

[Chorus]
¿Quién puede hablar del amor?
Who can talk about love?
¿Y defenderlo?
And stand up for it?
Que levante la mano, por favor
Raise your hand, please
¿Quién puede hablar del dolor?
Who can talk about pain?
Pagar la fianza
Pay the bail
Pa’ que salga de mi corazón
So that it comes out of my heart
Si alguien va a hablar del amor
If someone is going to talk about love
Te lo aseguro
I assure you
Esa no voy a ser yo
That’s not going to be me

[Chorus]
¿Quién puede hablar del amor?
Who can talk about love?
¿Y defenderlo?
And stand up for it?
Que levante la mano, por favor
Raise your hand, please
¿Quién puede hablar del dolor?
Who can talk about pain?
Pagar la fianza
Pay the bail
Pa’ que salga de mi corazón
So that it comes out of my heart
Si alguien va a hablar del amor
If someone is going to talk about love
Te lo aseguro
I assure you
Esa no voy a ser yo
That’s not going to be me
Esa no voy a ser yo
That’s not going to be me

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Possessive adjectives:
  • Y me olvido de tus cosas
  • De tus ojos
  • Que nunca llega a su final
  • Pa’ que salga de mi corazón
  • Quiere jugar con mi mente

• Object Pronouns:
  • Tú me abriste las heridas
  • Te lo aseguro
  • Pa’ volverme a engatusar
  • ¿Y defenderlo?

• Attached pronouns:
  • Pa’ volverme a engatusar
  • ¿Y defenderlo?

• Pronominal verbs:
  • Mejor me quedo solo
  • Y me olvido de tus cosas

• Stem-changing Verbs:
  • Querer (e => ie)
    • No quiero caer de nuevo en esa foto de locura
    • Quiere jugar con mi mente
  • Poder (o => ue)
    • ¿Quién puede hablar del amor?
    • ¿Quién puede hablar del dolor?

• Near Future (ir a + infin):
  • Si alguien va a hablar del amor
  • Esa no voy a ser yo

• Preterito:
  • Tú me abriste las heridas

• Imperfect:
  • Que ya daba por curadas

• Imperative:
  • Que levante la mano, por favor

• Subjunctive:
  • Pa’ que salga de mi corazón