By request! “Un Año” is a collaboration between Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra and Mexican pop-rock band Reik. It was released in January of 2019 and appears on Sebastián Yatra’s 2019 album Fantasía. The single reached number twelve on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, number four on the Latin Pop Airplay chart, and number one on the Latin Airplay chart.

Song information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

enamorarse – The verb enamorar is one of a number of verbs that change meaning when made pronominal/reflexive. Enamorar means to win s.o.’s heart or to win s.o.’s love. Enamorarse means to fall in love.

sentir vs sentirse – While both are translated as to feel, they are used in different contexts. Sentir discusses what one feels, and is usually followed by a noun. Sentirse discusses how one feels, and will generally be followed by an adjective or an adverb.

volver a hacer – This phrase means to do again. It would translate literally as to return to do.

puede que – This phrase means perhaps or it may be that. As it shows uncertainty or probability it should be followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood.

se restan – This is an example of the passive se, which tells something that happened or is happening without telling who or what performs the action. It is like using the passive voice in English, for example the books were opened (someone opened them, but we don’t know who). The verb conjugates for whatever item is being acted upon, so the third person plural is used here to match mil kilómetros. The following verb se suman could also be understood as using the passive se (see note below).

sumarse – There are two different ways this verb can be understood in this context. The first is as the pronominal verb sumarse meaning to join or to adhere, which would make sense in the context of two almas or souls. But this could also be understood as the verb sumar meaning to add or to equal or add up to being used with the passive se. In this understanding it would translate as are added, which would make sense after the previous passive construction se restan, meaning are subtracted.

a lo lejos – This phrase means in the distance or far away. It would translate literally as at the far.

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.

Ununa | art, indef | masc sing Añoañoyear | noun | masc sing

[Verse 1]
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex conocíconocerto know; recognize; meet | verb, spl chg | first pers sing pret enenin, on, during | prep primavera,primaveraspring | noun | fem sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex mirastemirarto look, watch | verb, reg | sec pers sing pret tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing, sub dedefrom, of | prep primeraprimerafirst | noun | fem sing
Dedefrom, of | prep ununa | art, indef | masc sing veranoveranosummer | noun | masc sing eternoeternoeverlasting, eternal | adj | masc sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex enamoréenamorarto win s.o.'s heart, win s.o.'s love | verb, reg | first pers sing pret | enamorarse = to fall in love
Yyand | conj esaesethat | adj | fem sing despedidadespedidafarewell, good-bye | noun | fem sing enenin, on, during | prep septiembre,septiembreSeptember | noun | masc sing enenin, on, during | prep octubreoctubreOctober | noun | masc sing sísíyes | adv quequethat, than; because; let | conj sesepart of pronominal verb | pron sientesentirto feel; sense; hear; taste; feel about, think about; feel sorry about | verb, stm chg | third pers sing pres | sentirse = to feel
NoviembrenoviembreNovember | noun | masc sing sinsinwithout | prep titiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex doliódolerto hurt | verb, stm chg | third pers sing pret tambiéntambiéntoo, also, as well | adv

[Pre-Chorus]
Llegarállegarto reach, arrive | verb, spl chg | third pers sing fut diciembre,diciembreDecember | noun | masc sing siguesseguirto follow; continue | verb, spl & stm chg | sec pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | adj, poss | masc and fem sing mentementemind | noun | fem sing
Fueronserto be | verb, irreg | third pers pl pret seisseissix | adj mesesmesmonth | noun | masc pl yyand | conj porporfor; because of; by | prep finfinend | noun | masc sing volverévolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | first pers sing fut | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep vertever + teto see + you | verb + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj
Llegarállegarto reach, arrive | verb, spl chg | third pers sing fut febrero,febreroFebruary | noun | masc sing yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub seréserto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing fut elelthe | art, def | masc sing primeroprimerofirst | adv
Enenin, on, during | prep dartedar + teto give + you | verb + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj floresflorflower | noun | fem pl yyand | conj decirtedecir + teto say, tell + you | verb + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj quequethat, than; because; let | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres

[Chorus]
Puedepoderto be able to | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | puede que + subj = perhaps quequethat, than; because; let | conj pasepasarto go ahead, proceed; cross; pass; happen | verb, reg | third pers sing subj ununa | art, indef | masc sing añoañoyear | noun | masc sing másmásmore, plus | adv dedefrom, of | prep unaunaa, an | art, indef | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing
Sinsinwithout | prep quequethat, than; because; let | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex puedapoderto be able to | verb, irreg | third pers sing subj ver,verto see | verb, irreg | infin peroperobut | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing esserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres másmásmore, plus | adv fuertefuertestrong; resilient; muscular; healthy, fit | adj | masc and fem sing
Puedepoderto be able to | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | puede que + subj = perhaps quequethat, than; because; let | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing tiempotiempotime | noun | masc sing nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves, each other | pron | first pers pl, dir obj, indir obj, reflex alejealejarmove away, distance; put off, drive away | verb, reg | first and third pers sing subj otraotroother; another, one more | adj | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing
Sinsinwithout | prep sabersaberto know | verb, irreg | infin dóndedóndewhere | adv estés,estarto be | verb, irreg | sec pers sing subj peroperobut | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing esserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres másmásmore, plus | adv fuertefuertestrong; resilient; muscular; healthy, fit | adj | masc and fem sing
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex esperaréesperarto wait | verb, reg | first pers sing fut porqueporquebecause | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing esserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres másmásmore, plus | adv fuertefuertestrong; resilient; muscular; healthy, fit | adj | masc and fem sing

[Verse 2]
Yayanow, already | adv lele(to) him, (to) her, (to) them, it, you | pron | third pers sing, indir obj dijedecirto say, tell | verb, irreg | first pers sing pret aato, into, by | prep mismismy | adj, poss | masc and fem pl amigo’amigofriend | noun | masc pl (amigos)
“YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub nononot | adv necesitonecesitarto need | verb, reg | first pers sing pres aano equivalent in en | prep | personal a, used when dir obj a person nadie,nadieno one, nobody | pron sólosóloonly | adv tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing, sub estásestarto be | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | adj, poss | masc and fem sing mente”mentemind | noun | fem sing
Milmilone thousand | adj kilómetroskilómetrokilometer | noun | masc pl sesepassive se | pron | talks about sth that happened w/o saying who or what carried out the action restan,restarto play down, diminish; subtract, deduct, take away | verb, reg | third pers pl pres cuandocuandowhen | adv dosdostwo | adj almasalmasoul, spirit; heart, spirit, enthusiasm | noun | fem pl sesepassive se | pron | talks about sth that happened w/o saying who or what carried out the action sumansumarto equal, add up to, make; to add | verb, reg | third pers pl pres | sumarse = to join, adhere
Aato, into, by | prep lolohim, it | pron | masc sing, neuter lejoslejosfar, far away, far from | adv | | a lo lejos = in the distance, far away puedopoderto be able to | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres vertever + teto see + you | verb + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj
Sólosóloonly | adv pienso,pensarto think | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres sólosóloonly | adv piensopensarto think | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep titiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj
Sólosóloonly | adv pienso,pensarto think | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres sólosóloonly | adv piensopensarto think | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep titiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj
Yayanow, already | adv mismismy | adj, poss | masc and fem pl primosprimocousin | noun | masc pl | male or mixed gender sabensaberto know | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres tutuyour | adj, poss | masc and fem sing apellidoapellidolast name, family name, surname | noun | masc sing
Quequethat, than; because; let | conj porporfor; because of; by | prep titiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub estoyestarto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres perdidoperdidolost | adj | masc sing
Esperoesperarto wait (for); hope, expect | verb, reg | first pers sing pres quequethat, than; because; let | conj tambiéntambiéntoo, also, as well | adv teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex pasepasarto go ahead, proceed; cross; pass; happen | verb, reg | third pers sing subj aato, into, by | prep titiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj

[Pre-Chorus]
Llegarállegarto reach, arrive | verb, spl chg | third pers sing fut diciembre,diciembreDecember | noun | masc sing siguesseguirto follow; continue | verb, spl & stm chg | sec pers sing pres enenin, on, during | prep mimimy | adj, poss | masc and fem sing mentementemind | noun | fem sing
Fueronserto be | verb, irreg | third pers pl pret seisseissix | adj mesesmesmonth | noun | masc pl yyand | conj porporfor; because of; by | prep finfinend | noun | masc sing volverévolverto return, come back | verb, stm chg | first pers sing fut | volver a hacer = to do again aato, into, by | prep vertever + teto see + you | verb + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj
Llegarállegarto reach, arrive | verb, spl chg | third pers sing fut febrero,febreroFebruary | noun | masc sing yoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub seréserto be | verb, irreg | first pers sing fut elelthe | art, def | masc sing primeroprimerofirst | adv
Enenin, on, during | prep dartedar + teto give + you | verb + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj floresflorflower | noun | fem pl yyand | conj decirtedecir + teto say, tell + you | verb + pron | infin + sec pers sing dir obj quequethat, than; because; let | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex quieroquererwant, wish; like, love | verb, stm chg | first pers sing pres

[Chorus]
Puedepoderto be able to | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | puede que + subj = perhaps quequethat, than; because; let | conj pasepasarto go ahead, proceed; cross; pass; happen | verb, reg | third pers sing subj ununa | art, indef | masc sing añoañoyear | noun | masc sing másmásmore, plus | adv dedefrom, of | prep unaunaa, an | art, indef | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing
Sinsinwithout | prep quequethat, than; because; let | conj teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex puedapoderto be able to | verb, irreg | third pers sing subj ver,verto see | verb, irreg | infin peroperobut | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing esserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres másmásmore, plus | adv fuertefuertestrong; resilient; muscular; healthy, fit | adj | masc and fem sing
Puedepoderto be able to | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | puede que + subj = perhaps quequethat, than; because; let | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing tiempotiempotime | noun | masc sing nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves, each other | pron | first pers pl, dir obj, indir obj, reflex alejealejarmove away, distance; put off, drive away | verb, reg | first and third pers sing subj otraotroother; another, one more | adj | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing
Sinsinwithout | prep sabersaberto know | verb, irreg | infin dóndedóndewhere | adv estés,estarto be | verb, irreg | sec pers sing subj peroperobut | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing esserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres másmásmore, plus | adv fuertefuertestrong; resilient; muscular; healthy, fit | adj | masc and fem sing
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex esperaréesperarto wait | verb, reg | first pers sing fut porqueporquebecause | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing esserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres másmásmore, plus | adv fuertefuertestrong; resilient; muscular; healthy, fit | adj | masc and fem sing
Teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex esperaréesperarto wait | verb, reg | first pers sing fut porqueporquebecause | conj elelthe | art, def | masc sing amoramorlove | noun | masc sing esserto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres másmásmore, plus | adv fuertefuertestrong; resilient; muscular; healthy, fit | adj | masc and fem sing

[Outro]
YoyoI | pron | first pers sing, sub teteyou, to you, yourself | pron | sec pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex conocíconocerto know; recognize; meet | verb, spl chg | first pers sing pret enenin, on, during | prep primavera,primaveraspring | noun | fem sing mememe, to me, myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, reflex mirastemirarto look, watch | verb, reg | sec pers sing pret tútúyou | pron | sec pers sing, sub dedefrom, of | prep primeraprimerafirst | noun | fem sing

Lyrics with Translation

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

Un Año
One Year

[Verse 1]
Yo te conocí en primavera, me miraste tú de primera
I met you in the spring, you looked at me first
De un verano eterno me enamoré
I fell in love with an eternal summer
Y esa despedida en septiembre, en octubre sí que se siente
And that farewell in September, in October it is certainly felt
Noviembre sin ti me dolió también
November without you hurt me too

[Pre-Chorus]
Llegará diciembre, sigues en mi mente
December will come, you’re still on my mind
Fueron seis meses y por fin volveré a verte
It’s been six months and I’ll finally see you again
Llegará febrero, yo seré el primero
February will come, I will be the first
En darte flores y decirte que te quiero
To give you flowers and tell you that I love you

[Chorus]
Puede que pase un año más de una vez
Maybe a year will pass more than once
Sin que te pueda ver, pero el amor es más fuerte
Without being able to see you, but love is stronger
Puede que el tiempo nos aleje otra vez
Maybe time will distance us again
Sin saber dónde estés, pero el amor es más fuerte
Without knowing where you are, but love is stronger
Te esperaré porque el amor es más fuerte
I’ll wait for you because love is stronger

[Verse 2]
Ya le dije a mis amigo’
I already told my friends
“Yo no necesito a nadie, sólo tú estás en mi mente”
“I don’t need anyone, only you are on my mind”
Mil kilómetros se restan, cuando dos almas se suman
A thousand kilometers are subtracted, when two souls are joined
A lo lejos puedo verte
In the distance I can see you
Sólo pienso, sólo pienso en ti
I only think, I only think about you
Sólo pienso, sólo pienso en ti
I only think, I only think about you
Ya mis primos saben tu apellido
My cousins already know your last name
Que por ti yo estoy perdido
That because of you I’m lost
Espero que también te pase a ti
I hope it happens to you too

[Pre-Chorus]
Llegará diciembre, sigues en mi mente
December will come, you’re still on my mind
Fueron seis meses y por fin volveré a verte
It’s been six months and I’ll finally see you again
Llegará febrero, yo seré el primero
February will come, I will be the first
En darte flores y decirte que te quiero
To give you flowers and tell you that I love you

[Chorus]
Puede que pase un año más de una vez
Maybe a year will pass more than once
Sin que te pueda ver, pero el amor es más fuerte
Without being able to see you, but love is stronger
Puede que el tiempo nos aleje otra vez
Maybe time will distance us again
Sin saber dónde estés, pero el amor es más fuerte
Without knowing where you are, but love is stronger
Te esperaré porque el amor es más fuerte
I’ll wait for you because love is stronger
Te esperaré porque el amor es más fuerte
I’ll wait for you because love is stronger

[Outro]
Yo te conocí en primavera, me miraste tú de primera
I met you in the spring, you looked at me first

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • Llegará diciembre, sigues en mi mente
  • “Yo no necesito a nadie, sólo tú estás en mi mente”
  • Ya le dije a mis amigo’
  • Ya mis primos saben tu apellido

• Object Pronouns:
  • Yo te conocí en primavera, me miraste tú de primera
  • Fueron seis meses y por fin volveré a verte
  • En darte flores y decirte que te quiero
  • Sin que te pueda ver, pero el amor es más fuerte
  • Puede que el tiempo nos aleje otra vez
  • Te esperaré porque el amor es más fuerte
  • Ya le dije a mis amigo’
  • A lo lejos puedo verte
  • Espero que también te pase a ti

• Disjunctive Pronouns:
  • Noviembre sin ti me dolió también
  • Sólo pienso, sólo pienso en ti
  • Que por ti yo estoy perdido
  • Espero que también te pase a ti

• Irregular Verbs:
  • ser:
    • Sin que te pueda ver, pero el amor es más fuerte
    • Sin saber dónde estés, pero el amor es más fuerte
    • Te esperaré porque el amor es más fuerte
  • estar:
    • “Yo no necesito a nadie, sólo tú estás en mi mente”
    • Que por ti yo estoy perdido
  • saber:
    • Ya mis primos saben tu apellido
• Stem-Changing:
  • poder (o > ue)
    • Puede que pase un año más de una vez
    • Puede que el tiempo nos aleje otra vez
    • A lo lejos puedo verte
  • sentir (e > ie):
    • Y esa despedida en septiembre, en octubre sí que se siente
  • querer (e > ie):
    • En darte flores y decirte que te quiero
  • pensar (e > ie):
    • Sólo pienso, sólo pienso en ti
• Spelling and Stem-Changing:
  • seguir (e > i):
    • Llegará diciembre, sigues en mi mente

• Reflexive/Pronominal:
  • De un verano eterno me enamoré
  • Y esa despedida en septiembre, en octubre sí que se siente
  • Mil kilómetros se restan, cuando dos almas se suman

• Preterite:
  • Yo te conocí en primavera, me miraste tú de primera
  • De un verano eterno me enamoré
  • Noviembre sin ti me dolió también
  • Fueron seis meses y por fin volveré a verte
  • Ya le dije a mis amigo’

• Future:
  • Llegará diciembre, sigues en mi mente
  • Llegará febrero, yo seré el primero
  • Te esperaré porque el amor es más fuerte
  • Fueron seis meses y por fin volveré a verte

• Subjunctive:
  • Sin que te pueda ver, pero el amor es más fuerte
  • Sin saber dónde estés, pero el amor es más fuerte
  • Puede que pase un año más de una vez
  • Espero que también te pase a ti
  • Puede que el tiempo nos aleje otra vez