It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and Billboard has put together several song lists for this occasion. And it’s no surprise that “Despacito” was included, appearing on both “The 50 Best Latin Songs of All Time” and the “Top 20 Latin Songs Of All Time” lists.

“Despacito” was ground-breaking in the Latin music scene. The official video on YouTube reached one billion views after just 97 days, the second-fastest video to do so behind “Hello” by Adele. It was also the first YouTube video to reach five billion views, achieving this in April 2018. As of February 2020 “Despacito” was up to more than 6.7 billion views, making it the most-watched YouTube video ever. In April 2017 an English remix was released featuring Justin Bieber. The week of May 27, 2017, the remix reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for 16 consecutive weeks, making it the longest-reigning number one song in the chart’s history. As of 2018 “Despacito” had broken seven Guinness World Records and sold more than 11 million records.

Song information from Wikipedia.

About the Artists

Luis Fonsi

Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero, who performs under the name Luis Fonsi, is a singer/songwriter and actor from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Even at a young age, he showed an interest in and aptitude for music, joining the San Juan children’s choir when he was only three. When he was 10 his family moved from Puerto Rico to Orlando, Florida. During high school, he was part of a group that performed locally called “Big Guys”, which included Joey Fatone who would later be a part of *NSYNC.

In 1998 he released his first album entitled Comenzaré (I Will Begin). The album was a hit across Latin America and reached number 11 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. While his earlier albums were popular in Latin America, his sixth album Paso a Paso and his seventh album Palabras del Silencio introduced him into international markets. The song “No Me Doy por Vencido”, was Luis Fonsi’s first appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 92, and spent 21 weeks at number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart. It remains one of his biggest hits, and was Billboard’s “Latin Pop Song of the Decade”.

Luis Fonsi’s biggest hit to date came in January of 2017 when he released “Despacito” featuring Daddy Yankee. It reached number one on nearly every Latin Billboard chart and is the most-watched YouTube video ever with more than 6.7 billion views as of February 2020. The English remix featuring Justin Bieber is the longest-reigning number one song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 at 16 consecutive weeks. As of 2018 “Despacito” had broken seven Guinness World Records and sold more than 11 million records.

Luis Fonsi has won numerous awards. These include his first Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the song “Aquí Estoy Yo”, which also won three Billboard Latin Music Awards. “Despacito” won four Latin Grammy Awards, seven Billboard Latin Music Awards and five Billboard Music Awards. His 2017 duo with Demi Lovato, entitled “Échame la Culpa” won Song of the Year at the Latin American Music Awards in 2018. Billboard named him “Leader of Latin Music’s New Generation” in 2019.

Biographical information from Wikipedia (English and Spanish)

Daddy Yankee

Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, who performs as Daddy Yankee, is a singer, songwriter, rapper, actor and record producer from Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. He is known as the “King of Reggaeton”, and is crediting with coining the term ‘reggaeton’ to describe the musical genre emerging from Puerto Rico in the mid-’90s. He first appeared on DJ Playero’s 1991 mixtape entitled Playero 34 with the song “So’ Persigueme, No Te Detengas”. Throughout the 90’s he would release solo music and appear on several of DJ Playero’s other mixtapes, which would later be regarded as the first reggaeton songs produced. His early music was successful in Puerto Rico, but not throughout Latin America.

His 2004 album Barrio Fino enjoyed international success. It won Billboard’s “Reggaeton Album of the Year” in 2005 and made history as the top-selling Latin music album of the decade for 2000-2009. His 2017 collaboration with Puerto Rican pop singer Luis Fonsi “Despacito” was even more successful. It reached number one on nearly every Latin Billboard chart and is the most-watched YouTube video ever with more than 6.7 billion views as of February 2020. The English remix featuring Justin Bieber is the longest-reigning number one song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 at 16 consecutive weeks. As of 2018 “Despacito” had broken seven Guinness World Records and sold more than 11 million records.

Daddy Yankee has won numerous international awards and is one of the most recognized reggaeton artists within the industry. As of 2017 he had won 5 Latin Grammy Awards, 2 Billboard Music Awards, 14 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 2 Latin American Music Awards, an MTV Video Music Award and 6 ASCAP Awards. He has a star on the Puerto Rican Walk of Fame and was one of Time’s 100 most influential people in 2006. In 2009 he and was named the “Most Influential Hispanic Artist” by CNN and in 2016 he received the “Industry Leader Award” at the Latin Billboard Awards.

Biographical information from Wikipedia

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘llevar un rato’ – As one would expect, this phrase means ‘to take a while’.

‘tener que’ – While by itself the verb ‘tener’ means ‘to have’, when followed by ‘que’ it means to have to do. For example, ‘tengo que irme’ (I have to leave), or ‘tienes que hacer tus deberes’ (you have to do your homework). As opposed to ‘haber que’ below, ‘tener que’ takes a specific subject and the verb ‘tener’ conjugates for that subject.

‘gustar’ – The verb gustar is used to state that someone likes something, but the person doing the liking in the object of the sentence, not the subject. This phrase literally means ‘[item] is pleasing to [person]’. The verb is conjugated for the item being liked, for example ‘me gusta el libro’ (singular) but ‘me gustan los libros’ (plural).

‘lo + adj’ – This construction means ‘what is + adj’ or ‘that which is + adj’. The example in this song is ‘lo normal’, meaning ‘what is normal’.

‘haber que’ – Like ‘tener que’, ‘haber que’ means ‘to have to do’. However ‘haber que’ is used in the more general sense of ‘it is necessary to’ and does not take a subject, rather it will always conjugate in the third person singular (‘hay’). For example ‘Hay que estudiar mucho’, meaning ‘it is necessary to study a lot’ or ‘one must study a lot’.

‘tomarlo’ – ‘Lo’ is a little different than the other object pronouns. While the other pronouns replace a specific noun, lo is used to refer to something abstract, to an unnamed activity or situation, or to a previous statement. Here it refers to the situation in general. “Esto hay que tomarlo sin ningún apuro” means “This (the situation in general) has to be done without any rush”.

‘acordarse de’ = While the verbo ‘acordar’ means ‘to agree’, ‘acordarse de’ means ‘to remember’.

‘darse’ – Translating literally as ‘to give oneself’, this means ‘to give up’ or ‘to surrender’.

‘mami’ – While this term can mean ‘mommy’, it is very often used as a slang term to refer to an attractive woman, a female romantic partner, or a close female friend. I have left this term untranslated in my translations.

‘beba’ – This is an occasionally used feminine form of the word ‘bebé”, meaning ‘baby girl’.

‘cómo te sabe’ – Literally meaning ‘how it tastes to you’, this phrase is used in the sense of ‘if you like it’.

‘Nos vamo’ pegando’ – This is an example of the reflexive being used reciprocally. The ‘nos’ here, rather than meaning ‘ourselves’, means ‘each other’. So this phrase means ‘we’re getting closer to each other’.

‘tener prisa’ – This is one of the expressions with the verb ‘tener’, meaning ‘to be in a hurry’.

‘rompecabezas’ – I’ve always enjoyed this word, which means ‘puzzle’ in Spanish, as it literally means ‘head breaker’.

‘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 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).

Attached pronouns

In Spanish, object pronouns can be attached to the end of the verb under certain circumstances. There are numerous examples of each in this song. These are:

• When the verb is in the infinitive form (pensarlo, tomarlo, desnudarte, montarlo, hacerlo)
• When the verb is in the imperative form (Muéstrame, Déjame, dámelo)
• When the verb is a gerund (llamándome, pensándolo, intentándolo)

Multiple pronouns can be added to a verb. In this song, we have the example ‘dámelo’, which broken down is dá (give) + me (me) + lo (it).

Note that when a pronoun is added to a gerund or a verb in the imperative, an accent must be added to maintain the correct stress. This can be seen clearly in the phrase ‘esto es dando y dándolo‘, where the first instance of dando has no pronoun and no accent, however when ‘lo’ is added an accent is added to the ‘a’.

Present Progressive

There are two forms of the present progressive in this song, but they carry slightly different meanings.

‘estar + gerund’ – This is the standard way of communicating that an action is currently underway. For example ‘estoy comiendo’ means ‘I am eating’, in the sense that I am currently, at this very moment, eating a meal.

‘ir + gerund’ – While, like ‘estar’, ‘ir’ is also used with the gerund to discuss actions in progress, it is used when you want to stress the progression of the action, highlighting that the change is happening incrementally. It is used to indicate a gradual, steady or progressive change, similar to saying something happens ‘little by little”.

Diminutive

There are several instances of the diminutive form in this song. It is achieved by adding ‘-ito’ to the end of masculine words, or ‘-ita’ to the end of feminine words. While it can mean that the modified term is ‘less than’ or ‘smaller than’ the normal form (ie ‘paso’ meaning step and ‘pasito’ meaning little step), often it is simply a stylistic change, with no change in meaning. Following are the instances within this song:

• ‘despacito’ – From ‘despacio’, meaning ‘slowly’.
• ‘pasito’ – From ‘paso’, meaning ‘step’; ‘path’ or ‘passage’; or ‘time’, ‘stay’, or ‘experience’.
• ‘suavecito’ – From ‘suave’ meaning ‘soft’, ‘smooth’, ‘gentle’ or ‘light’.
• ‘poquito’ – From ‘poco’ meaning ‘a little’ or ‘a little bit’.

Subjunctive

‘Deja que te diga cosas al oído’ – ‘Dejar que’ is one of the wishing/willing/commanding verbs, and therefore takes the subjunctive.

‘Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo’ – The phrase ‘para que’ means ‘so that’ or ‘in order that’, and is one of the phrases that will always be followed by the subjunctive.

‘Que le enseñes a mi boca’ – While not obvious at first glance, this phrase follows the verb ‘quiero’ in the previous line. The phrase ‘quiero que’ voices a hope or a wish and therefore something that is not certain, so it is followed by a verb in the subjunctive tense.

‘Y que olvides tu apellido’ – This phrase also follows a phrase from the line above, this time following ‘hasta’. The phrase ‘hasta que’ takes the subjunctive when discussing a command or a potential event in the future. When discussing a habitual or past action, the indicative is used instead.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

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

Despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio

[Intro]
Sí,síyes | adv sabessaberto know | verb | sec pers sing pres quequethat, than | conj yayanow, already | adv llevollevarto carry, to take, to spend (time); bring; wear | verb | first pers sing pres | llevar un rato = to take a while ununa | indef art | masc sing ratoratoa little while, a short time, a little bit | noun | masc sing | llevar un rato = to take a while mirándotemirar + telook, watch + you | verb + pron | ger
Tengotenerto have | verb | first pers sing pres | tener que = to have to quequethat, than | conj bailarbailarto dance | verb | infin contigocontigowith you | pron hoyhoytoday; nowadays, now | adv
Viverto see | verb | first pers sing pret quequethat, than | conj tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing miradamiradalook, glance, gaze | noun | fem sing yayanow, already | adv estabaestarto be | verb | third pers sing imperf llamándomellamar + meto call + me | verb + pron | ger
Muéstramemostrar + meto show; display; demonstrate + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera elelthe | def art | masc sing caminocaminoroad; way, path; journey, trip | noun | masc sing quequethat, than | conj yoyoI | pron | first pers sing voyirto go | verb | first pers sing pres

[Verse 1]
Tú,túyou | pron | sec pers sing tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing eresserto be | verb | sec pers sing pres elelthe | def art | masc sing imánimánmagnet | noun | masc sing yyand | conj yoyoI | pron | first pers sing soyserto be | verb | first pers sing pres elelthe | def art | masc sing metalmetalmetal | noun | masc sing
Mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing voyirto go | verb | first pers sing pres acercandoacercarto move closer, get closer, bring closer | verb | ger | acercarse = to approach yyand | conj voyirto go | verb | first pers sing pres armandoarmararm; assemble, put together | verb | ger elelthe | def art | masc sing planplanplan | noun | masc sing
Sólosóloonly | adv conconwith | prep pensarlopensar + loto think + it | verb + pron | infin sesehimself, herself, itself, themselves | pron | reflex, third pers sing and pl aceleraacelerarto accelerate, speed up | verb | third pers sing pres | acelerarse = to get overexcited, lose one's cool, get worked up elelthe | def art | masc sing pulsopulsopulse, heartbeat; steady hand | noun | masc sing
Ya,yanow, already | adv yayanow, already | adv mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing estáestarto be | verb | third pers sing pres gustandogustarto like, to enjoy | verb | ger | conjugated for the item being liked, ie X is pleasing to Y másmásmore, plus | adv dedefrom, of | prep lolothe | art | masc sing, neuter | lo + adj = what is, the + adj normalnormalnormal | adj
Todostodoevery, each; whole, entire | adj | masc pl mismismy | poss adj | masc and fem pl sentidossentidosense; meaning; direction | noun | masc pl vanirto go | verb | third pers pl pres pidiendopedirto ask for, request; demand; order | verb | ger másmásmore, plus | adv
Estoestothis | pron | masc sing hayhaberthere is, are | verb | third pers sing impersonal pres | haber que hacer algo = need to do sth, have to do sth, should do sth quequethat, than | conj tomarlotomar + loto take; to drink | verb + pron | infin sinsinwithout | prep ningúnningúnno, none, not one | adj | masc sing apuroapuropredicament, difficult situation; hardship; embarrassment; rush | noun | masc sing

[Chorus]
Despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres respirarrespirarto breathe | verb | infin tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing cuellocuelloneck; collar | noun | masc sing despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Dejadejarto let, allow; to leave | verb | sec pers sing impera quequethat, than | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing digadecirto say, tell | verb | first pers sing subj cosascosathing | noun | fem pl ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing oídooídohearing; ear | noun | masc sing
Paraparafor, to, in order to | prep quequethat, than | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing acuerdesacordarto agree | verb | sec pers sing subj | acordarse de = to remember sisiif | conj nononot | adv estásestarto be | verb | sec pers sing pres conmigoconmigowith me | pron
Despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres desnudartedesnudar + teto undress, strip | verb + pron | infin aato, into, by | prep besosbesokiss | noun | masc pl despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Firmarfirmarto sign | verb | infin laslasthe | def art | fem pl paredesparedwall | noun | fem pl dedefrom, of | prep tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing laberintolaberintomaze, labyrinth | noun | masc sing
Yyand | conj hacerhacerto do; to make | verb | infin dedefrom, of | prep tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing cuerpocuerpobody | noun | masc sing todotodoeverything | pron | todo un/una = a complete, a real, all quite a ununa | indef art | masc sing manuscritomanuscritomanuscript | noun | masc sing
Sube,subirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera sube,subirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera sube;subirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera sube,subirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera subesubirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera

[Post-Chorus]
Quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres ververto see | verb | infin bailarbailarto dance | verb | infin tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing pelo,pelohair | noun | masc sing | el pelo refers to all the hair on one's head in general, un pelo is one single hair quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres serserto be | verb | infin tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing ritmoritmorhythm | noun | masc sing
Quequethat, than; because; let | conj lele(to) him, (to) her, (to) them, it, you | pron | indir obj, third pers sing enseñesenseñarto teach; to show | verb | sec pers sing subj aato, into, by | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing bocabocamouth | noun | fem sing
Tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl lugareslugarplace | noun | masc pl favoritosfavoritofavorite | adj | masc pl
Favorito’,favorito (favoritos)favorite | adj | masc pl favorito’,favorito (favoritos)favorite | adj | masc pl babybabybaby | noun | English term
Déjamedejar + meto let, allow; to leave + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera sobrepasarsobrepasarovertake, pass; surpass, exceed | verb | infin tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl zonaszonaspace, area, zone; district | noun | fem pl dedefrom, of | prep peligropeligrodanger, risk, threat, peril | noun | masc sing
Hastahastauntil; even | prep provocarprovocarcause; provoke, agitate; excite, arouse, turn on | verb | infin tustusyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl gritosgritoshout, yell, scream, cry | noun | masc pl
Yyand | conj quequethat, than; because; let | conj olvidesolvidarto forget | verb | sec pers sing subj tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing apellidoapellidolast name, family name, surname | noun | masc sing

[Verse 2]
Sisiif | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing pidopedirask for, request; order; demand | verb | first pers sing pres ununa | indef art | masc sing beso,besokiss | noun | masc sing ven,venirto come, to arrive; to return, come back | verb | sec pers sing impera dámelo,dar + me + loto give + me + it | verb + pron + pron | sec pers sing impera yoyoI | pron | first pers sing sésaberto know | verb | first pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj estásestarto be | verb | sec pers sing pres pensándolopensar + loto think + it | verb + pron | ger
Llevollevarto carry, to take, to spend (time); bring; wear | verb | first pers sing pres tiempotiempotime | noun | masc sing intentándolo,intentar + loto try + it | verb + pron | ger mami,mamimommy, attractive woman, female romantic partner, close female friend | noun | fem sing | slang estoestothis | pron | masc sing esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres dandodarto give | verb | ger yyand | conj dandolodar + loto give + it | verb | ger
Sabessaberto know | verb | sec pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing corazóncorazónheart | noun | masc sing conmigoconmigowith me | pron teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing hacehacerto do, to make | verb | third pers sing pres bam-bam
Sabessaberto know | verb | sec pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj esaesethat | adj | fem sing bebabebababy girl | noun | fem sing estáestarto be | verb | third pers sing pres buscandobuscarlook for, search for | verb | ger dedefrom, of | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing bam-bam
Ven,venirto come, to arrive; to return, come back | verb | sec pers sing impera pruebaprobartry; taste; check, test; try on; prove, demonstrate | verb | sec pers sing impera dedefrom, of | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing bocabocamouth | noun | fem sing paraparafor, to, in order to | prep ververto see | verb | infin cómocómohow, why | adv teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing sabesaberto know; to taste | verb | third pers sing pres
Quiero,quererto want | verb | first pers sing pres quiero,quererto want | verb | first pers sing pres quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres ververto see | verb | infin cuántocuántohow much, how many | adj | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing aato, into, by | prep titiyou | pron | obj of a prep teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing cabecaberto fit, be room for; be possible | verb | third pers sing pres
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing nononot | adv tengotenerto have | verb | first pers sing pres | tener prisa = to be in a hurry prisa,prisarush, hurry, urgency | noun | fem sing yoyoI | pron | first pers sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres dardarto give | verb | infin | darse = to give up, surrender elelthe | def art | masc sing viajeviajetrip, voyage, journey | noun | masc sing
Empezamosempezarto start, begin | verb | first pers pl impera lento,lentoslow, slowly | adv despuésdespuésafter, afterwards, then | adv salvajesalvajewild, feral, untamed; savage, violent, brutal | adj | masc and fem sing

[Pre-Chorus]
Pasitopasostep; path, passage; time, stay, experience | noun | masc sing | dim form aato, into, by | prep pasito,pasostep; path, passage; time, stay, experience | noun | masc sing | dim form suavesuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc and fem sing suavecitosuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc sing | dim form
Nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves | pron | dir obj, indir obj, reflex vamo’ir (vamos)to go | verb | third pers pl pres pegando,pegarto hit, strike; to stick, glue; to give; to move closer | verb | ger poquitopocoa little bit | adj | dim form aato, into, by | prep poquitopocoa little bit | adj | dim form
Cuandocuandowhen | adv tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing besasbesarto kiss | verb | sec pers sing pres conconwith | prep esaesethat | adj | fem sing destrezadestrezaskill, ability, dexterity | noun | fem sing
Veoverto see | verb | first pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj eresserto be | verb | sec pers sing pres maliciamaliciawickedness, malice, spite | noun | fem sing conconwith | prep delicadezadelicadezacare, delicacy, tact, attentiveness; tenderness, gentleness | noun | fem sing | con delicadeza = carefully, tactfully, delicately, tenderly, gently
Pasitopasostep; path, passage; time, stay, experience | noun | masc sing | dim form aato, into, by | prep pasito,pasostep; path, passage; time, stay, experience | noun | masc sing | dim form suavesuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc and fem sing suavecitosuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc sing | dim form
Nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves | pron | dir obj, indir obj, reflex vamo’ir (vamos)to go | verb | third pers pl pres pegando,pegarto hit, strike; to stick, glue; to give; to move closer | verb | ger poquitopocoa little bit | adj | dim form aato, into, by | prep poquitopocoa little bit | adj | dim form
Yyand | conj esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj esaesethat | adj | fem sing bellezabellezabeauty | noun | fem sing esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres ununa | indef art | masc sing rompecabezasrompecabezaspuzzle, jigsaw puzzle, brain teaser | noun | masc pl
Peroperobut | conj pa’parafor, to, in order to | prep | shortened to pa' in colloquial speech montarlomontar + loride; assemble, put together + it | verb + pron | infin aquíaquíhere, now | adv tengotenerto have | verb | first pers sing pres lalathe | def art | fem sing piezapiezapart, piece; room | noun | fem sing
¡Oye!oírto hear | interj

[Chorus]
Despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres respirarrespirarto breathe | verb | infin tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing cuellocuelloneck; collar | noun | masc sing despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Dejadejarto let, allow; to leave | verb | sec pers sing impera quequethat, than | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing digadecirto say, tell | verb | first pers sing subj cosascosathing | noun | fem pl ala + elto the | prep + def art | masc sing oídooídohearing; ear | noun | masc sing
Paraparafor, to, in order to | prep quequethat, than | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, sec pers sing acuerdesacordarto agree | verb | sec pers sing subj | acordarse de = to remember sisiif | conj nononot | adv estásestarto be | verb | sec pers sing pres conmigoconmigowith me | pron
Despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres desnudartedesnudar + teto undress, strip | verb + pron | infin aato, into, by | prep besosbesokiss | noun | masc pl despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Firmarfirmarto sign | verb | infin laslasthe | def art | fem pl paredesparedwall | noun | fem pl dedefrom, of | prep tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing laberintolaberintomaze, labyrinth | noun | masc sing
Yyand | conj hacerhacerto do; to make | verb | infin dedefrom, of | prep tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing cuerpocuerpobody | noun | masc sing todotodoeverything | pron | todo un/una = a complete, a real, all quite a ununa | indef art | masc sing manuscritomanuscritomanuscript | noun | masc sing
Sube,subirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera sube,subirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera sube;subirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera sube,subirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera subesubirto climb, go up; get on | verb | sec pers sing impera

[Post-Chorus]
Quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres ververto see | verb | infin bailarbailarto dance | verb | infin tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing pelo,pelohair | noun | masc sing | el pelo refers to all the hair on one's head in general, un pelo is one single hair quieroquererto want | verb | first pers sing pres serserto be | verb | infin tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing ritmoritmorhythm | noun | masc sing
Quequethat, than; because; let | conj lele(to) him, (to) her, (to) them, it, you | pron | indir obj, third pers sing enseñesenseñarto teach; to show | verb | sec pers sing subj aato, into, by | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing bocabocamouth | noun | fem sing
Tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl lugareslugarplace | noun | masc pl favoritosfavoritofavorite | adj | masc pl
Favorito’,favorito (favoritos)favorite | adj | masc pl favorito’,favorito (favoritos)favorite | adj | masc pl babybabybaby | noun | English term
Déjamedejar + meto let, allow; to leave + me | verb + pron | sec pers sing impera sobrepasarsobrepasarovertake, pass; surpass, exceed | verb | infin tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl zonaszonaspace, area, zone; district | noun | fem pl dedefrom, of | prep peligropeligrodanger, risk, threat, peril | noun | masc sing
Hastahastauntil; even | prep provocarprovocarcause; provoke, agitate; excite, arouse, turn on | verb | infin tustusyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl gritosgritoshout, yell, scream, cry | noun | masc pl
Yyand | conj quequethat, than; because; let | conj olvidesolvidarto forget | verb | sec pers sing subj tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing apellidoapellidolast name, family name, surname | noun | masc sing

[Bridge]
Despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio
Vamo’ir (vamos)to go | verb | third pers pl pres aato, into, by | prep hacerlohacer + loto do, to make + it | verb + pron | infin enenin, on, during | prep unaunaa, an | indef art | fem sing playaplayabeach | noun | fem sing enenin, on, during | prep Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico | prop noun | territory
Hastahastauntil; even | prep quequethat, than; because; let | conj laslasthe | def art | fem pl olasolawave | noun | fem pl gritengritarshout, yell, call | verb | third pers pl pres “¡Ay, | Bendito!”¡Bendito!What!, My goodness! Oh my God! | interj
Paraparafor, to, in order to | prep quequethat, than; because; let | conj mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing sellosellostamp; signature | noun | masc sing sesepart of pronominal verb | pron quedequedarto remain, to stay; to be left; to be located; suit, fit | verb | quedarse = to stay, remain contigocontigowith you | pron

[Outro]
Pasitopasostep; path, passage; time, stay, experience | noun | masc sing | dim form aato, into, by | prep pasito,pasostep; path, passage; time, stay, experience | noun | masc sing | dim form suavesuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc and fem sing suavecitosuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc sing | dim form
Nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves | pron | dir obj, indir obj, reflex vamosirto go | verb | first pers pl pres pegando,pegarto hit, strike; to stick, glue; to give; to move closer | verb | ger poquitopocoa little bit | adj | dim form aato, into, by | prep poquitopocoa little bit | adj | dim form
Quequethat, than; because; let | conj lele(to) him, (to) her, (to) them, it, you | pron | indir obj, third pers sing enseñesenseñarto teach; to show | verb | sec pers sing subj aato, into, by | prep mimimy | poss adj | masc and fem sing bocabocamouth | noun | fem sing
Tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl lugareslugarplace | noun | masc pl favoritosfavoritofavorite | adj | masc pl
Favorito’,favorito (favoritos)favorite | adj | masc pl favorito’,favorito (favoritos)favorite | adj | masc pl babybabybaby | English term
Pasitopasostep; path, passage; time, stay, experience | noun | masc sing | dim form aato, into, by | prep pasito,pasostep; path, passage; time, stay, experience | noun | masc sing | dim form suavesuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc and fem sing suavecitosuavesoft, smooth; gentle, light | adj | masc sing | dim form
Nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves | pron | dir obj, indir obj, reflex vamosirto go | verb | first pers pl pres pegando,pegarto hit, strike; to stick, glue; to give; to move closer | verb | ger poquitopocoa little bit | adj | dim form aato, into, by | prep poquitopocoa little bit | adj | dim form
Hastahastauntil; even | prep provocarprovocarcause; provoke, agitate; excite, arouse, turn on | verb | infin tustusyour | adj | masc and fem pl gritosgritoshout, yell, scream, cry | noun | masc pl
Yyand | conj quequethat, than; because; let | conj olvidesolvidarto forget | verb | sec pers sing subj tutuyour | poss adj | masc and fem sing apellidoapellidolast name, family name, surname | noun | masc sing
Despacitodespacitoslowly | adv | dim of despacio

Lyrics with Translation

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

Despacito
Slowly

[Intro]
Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote
Yeah, you know I’ve been looking at you for a while now
Tengo que bailar contigo hoy
I have to dance with you today
Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome
I saw that your glance was already calling me
Muéstrame el camino que yo voy
Show me the way I’m going

[Verse 1]
Tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal
You, you’re the magnet and I’m the metal
Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan
I’m getting closer and I’m making a plan
Sólo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso
Just thinking about it makes my pulse speed up
Ya, ya me está gustando más de lo normal
Now, I’m already enjoying it more than usual
Todos mis sentidos van pidiendo más
All of my senses are asking for more
Esto hay que tomarlo sin ningún apuro
This has to be done without any rush

[Chorus]
Despacito
Slowly
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
I want to breathe in your neck slowly
Deja que te diga cosas al oído
Let me say things in your ear
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo
So that you’ll remember if you’re not with me
Despacito
Slowly
Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
I want to undress you with kisses slowly
Firmar las paredes de tu laberinto
To sign the walls of your labyrinth
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito
And to make your body into quite a manuscript
Sube, sube, sube; sube, sube
Go up, go up, go up; go up, go up

[Post-Chorus]
Quiero ver bailar tu pelo, quiero ser tu ritmo
I want to see your hair dance, I want to be your rhythm
Que le enseñes a mi boca
To show my mouth
Tus lugares favoritos
Your favorite places
Favorito’, favorito’, baby
Favorite, favorite, baby
Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro
Let me get by your danger zones
Hasta provocar tus gritos
Until I make you scream
Y que olvides tu apellido
And you forget your last name

[Verse 2]
Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo, yo sé que estás pensándolo
If I ask you for a kiss, come, give it to me, I know you’re thinking about it
Llevo tiempo intentándolo, mami, esto es dando y dándolo
I’ve been trying it for a while, mami, this is giving and giving it
Sabes que tu corazón conmigo te hace bam-bam
You know that with me your heart goes bam-bam
Sabes que esa beba está buscando de mi bam-bam
You know that babe is looking for some of my bam-bam
Ven, prueba de mi boca para ver cómo te sabe
Come, try my mouth to see how you like it
Quiero, quiero, quiero ver cuánto amor a ti te cabe
I want, I want, I want to see how much love fits in you
Yo no tengo prisa, yo me quiero dar el viaje
I’m not in a hurry, I want to surrender to the trip
Empezamos lento, después salvaje
Let’s start slowly, then savagely

[Pre-Chorus]
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Step by step, gentle gentle
Nos vamo’ pegando, poquito a poquito
We’re getting closer to each other, little by little
Cuando tú me besas con esa destreza
When you kiss me with that skill
Veo que eres malicia con delicadeza
I see you’re malice with delicacy
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Step by step, gentle gentle
Nos vamo’ pegando, poquito a poquito
We’re getting closer to each other, little by little
Y es que esa belleza es un rompecabezas
And that beauty is a puzzle
Pero pa’ montarlo aquí tengo la pieza
But to put it together here I have the piece
¡Oye!
Hey!

[Chorus]
Despacito
Slowly
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
I want to breathe in your neck slowly
Deja que te diga cosas al oído
Let me say things in your ear
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo
So that you’ll remember if you’re not with me
Despacito
Slowly
Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
I want to undress you with kisses slowly
Firmar las paredes de tu laberinto
To sign the walls of your labyrinth
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito
And to make your body into quite a manuscript
Sube, sube, sube; sube, sube
Go up, go up, go up; go up, go up

[Post-Chorus]
Quiero ver bailar tu pelo, quiero ser tu ritmo
I want to see your hair dance, I want to be your rhythm
Que le enseñes a mi boca
To show my mouth
Tus lugares favoritos
Your favorite places
Favorito’, favorito’, baby
Favorite, favorite, baby
Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro
Let me get by your danger zones
Hasta provocar tus gritos
Until I make you scream
Y que olvides tu apellido
And you forget your last name

[Bridge]
Despacito
Slowly
Vamo’ a hacerlo en una playa en Puerto Rico
We’ll do it on a beach in Puerto Rico
Hasta que las olas griten: “¡Ay, Bendito!”
Until the waves shout: “Oh, my God!”
Para que mi sello se quede contigo
So that my seal stays with you

[Outro]
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Step by step, gentle gentle
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
We’re getting closer to each other, little by little
Que le enseñes a mi boca
To show my mouth
Tus lugares favoritos
Your favorite places
Favorito’, favorito’, baby
Favorite, favorite, baby
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Step by step, gentle gentle
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
We’re getting closer to each other, little by little
Hasta provocar tus gritos
Until I make you scream
Y que olvides tu apellido
And you forget your last name
Despacito
Slowly

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Diminutive:
  • Despacito
  • Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
  • Nos vamo’ pegando, poquito a poquito

• Irregular Present Tense:
  • Irregular in All Forms:
    • Tener (stem changing and -go verb)
      • Tengo que bailar contigo hoy
      • Yo no tengo prisa, yo me quiero dar el viaje
      • Pero pa’ montarlo aquí tengo la pieza
    • Ir:
      • Muéstrame el camino que yo voy
      • Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan
      • Todos mis sentidos van pidiendo más
      • Nos vamo’ pegando, poquito a poquito
      • Vamo’ a hacerlo en una playa en Puerto Rico
      • Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
    • Ser
      • Tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal
      • Veo que eres malicia con delicadeza
      • Tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal
      • Llevo tiempo intentándolo, mami, esto es dando y dándolo
      • Y es que esa belleza es un rompecabezas
    • Estar
      • Ya, ya me está gustando más de lo normal
      • Sabes que esa beba está buscando de mi bam-bam
      • Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo
      • Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo, yo sé que estás pensándolo
    • Haber
      • Esto hay que tomarlo sin ningún apuro
  • Stem changing
    • Querer
      • Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
      • Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
      • Quiero ver bailar tu pelo, quiero ser tu ritmo
      • Quiero, quiero, quiero ver cuánto amor a ti te cabe
      • Yo no tengo prisa, yo me quiero dar el viaje
    • Pedir
      • Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo, yo sé que estás pensándolo
  • Irregular in Yo form
    • Saber
      • Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo, yo sé que estás pensándolo
    • Ver
      • Veo que eres malicia con delicadeza

• Preterite:
  • Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome

• Imperfect:
  • Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome

• Gerund:
  • Llevo tiempo intentándolo, mami, esto es dando y dándolo
  • Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote
  • Ir + gerund:
    • Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan
    • Todos mis sentidos van pidiendo más
    • Nos vamo’ pegando, poquito a poquito
    • Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
  • Estar + gerund:
    • Ya, ya me está gustando más de lo normal
    • Sabes que esa beba está buscando de mi bam-bam
    • Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo, yo sé que estás pensándolo
  • Imperfect Progressive:
    • Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome

• impera:
  • Deja que te diga cosas al oído
  • Sube, sube, sube; sube, sube
  • Ven, prueba de mi boca para ver cómo te sabe
  • Empezamos lento, después salvaje
  • Muéstrame el camino que yo voy
  • Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro
  • Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo, yo sé que estás pensándolo

• Subjunctive:
  • Deja que te diga cosas al oído
  • Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo
  • Que le enseñes a mi boca
  • Y que olvides tu apellido

• Attached Pronouns:
  • Gerund:
    • Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote
    • Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome
    • Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo, yo sé que estás pensándolo
    • Llevo tiempo intentándolo, mami, esto es dando y dándolo
  • Imperative:
    • Muéstrame el camino que yo voy
    • Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro
    • Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo, yo sé que estás pensándolo
  • Infinative:
    • Sólo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso
    • Esto hay que tomarlo sin ningún apuro
    • Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
    • Pero pa’ montarlo aquí tengo la pieza
    • Vamo’ a hacerlo en una playa en Puerto Rico