“Un año más” is a popular Christmas song by the Spanish pop group Mecano, that talks about New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. It originally appeared on their 1988 album Descanso dominical. This version by various artists appeared on the 2019 Univision album Nuestra Navidad.

About the Artists

This version is performed by Carlos Rivera, Reik, Pandora, Matisse, Natalia Jiménez, Yuri, Ventino, Arthur Hanlon, Manuel Medrano.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘Puerta del Sol’ – This is the name of a public square in Madrid. It is one of the best known and busiest places in the city and contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes in celebration of the beginning of the new year. The New Year’s celebration from this square has been broadcast live since 31 December 1962 on major radio and television networks.

‘uvas’ – Las doce uvas de la suerte, or The twelve grapes of luck, is a New Year’s Eve tradition in Spain. A grap is eaten with each strike of the clock bell at midnight on December 31 to welcome the New Year. There are two main places where people gather to eat the grapes: at home with the family or in main squares around the country, the most famous of these being the Puerta del Sol in Madrid, which is also the place where the tradition started. The bells in Puerta del Sol are from the Royal House of the Post Office clock, where a time ball also drops.

‘en el año que viene nos reímos’ – In Spanish the present tense can be used to speak of future events. Here the phrase ‘en el año que viene’ marks the sentence as happening in the future.

‘Que la quinta es la una y la sexta es la dos’ – This phrase, meaning ‘the fifth is the first and the sixth is the second’, is a reference to the way the bells ring. There are an initial four bells that ring that have a double sound (ding-dong). After these initial four rings come the twelve single rings, and it is with these twelve single rings that the twelve grapes are eaten, one grape with each ring. So the fifth bell ring is the first ring where a grape is eaten. This video shows the sequence.

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 | indef art | masc sing Añoañoyear | noun | masc sing Másmásmore, plus | adv

[Verse 1]
Enenin, on, during | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing Puertapuertadoor; gate | noun | fem sing | Puerta del Sol = name of public square in Mardrid delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing | Puerta del Sol = name of public square in Mardrid Solsolsun | noun | masc sing | Puerta del Sol = name of public square in Mardrid
Comocomolike, as, since | adv elelthe | def art | masc sing añoañoyear | noun | masc sing quequethat, than | conj fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret
Otraotroother; another, one more | adj | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing elelthe | def art | masc sing champánchampánchampagne | noun | masc sing yyand | conj laslasthe | def art | fem pl uvasuvagrape | noun | fem pl yyand | conj elelthe | def art | masc sing alquitránalquitrántar; asphalt, tarmac | noun | masc sing
Dedefrom, of | prep alfombraalfombrarug, carpet | noun | fem sing estánestarto be | verb | third pers pl pres

[Verse 2]
Loslosthe | def art | masc pl petardospetardofirecracker | noun | masc pl quequethat, than | conj borranborrarto erase, remove, clean, wipe of; delete | verb | third pers pl pres sonidossonidosound | noun | masc pl dedefrom, of | prep ayerayeryesterday | adv
Yyand | conj acaloranalcalorarheat up | verb | third pers pl pres elelthe | def art | masc sing ánimoánimospirits, mood, energy; intention, intent | noun | masc sing paraparafor, to, in order to | prep aceptaraceptarto accept | verb | infin
Quequethat, than | conj yayanow, already | adv pasópasarto happen; to pass; to cross; to proceed; to spend (time) | third pers sing pret unounoone, you | pron másmásmore, plus | adv

[Chorus]
Yyand | conj enenin, on, during | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing relojrelojwatch, clock, hourglass, sundail | noun | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep antaño,antañoformerly, in the past, previously, yesteryear | adv comocomolike, as, since | adv dedefrom, of | prep añoañoyear | noun | masc sing enenin, on, during | prep añoañoyear | noun | masc sing
Cincocincofive | adj minutosminutominute | noun | mas pl másmásmore, plus | adv paraparafor, to, in order to | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing cuentacuentasum; bill; account | noun | fem sing | cuenta atrás = countdown atrásatrásback, backwards; behind | adv | cuenta atrás = countdown
Hacemoshacerto do, to make | verb | first pers pl pres elelthe | def art | masc sing balancebalanceevaluation, assessment; balance, balance sheet, stocktaking | noun | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep lolothe | art | masc sing, neuter | lo + adj = what is, the + adj buenobuenogood | adj | masc sing yyand | conj malo,malobad, wicked, evil, mean | adj | masc sing
Cincocincofive | adj minutosminutominute | noun | mas pl antesantesfirst, before | adv dedefrom, of | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing cuentacuentasum; bill; account | noun | fem sing | cuenta atrás = countdown atrásatrásback, backwards; behind | adv | cuenta atrás = countdown

[Verse 3]
Marineros,marinerosailor | noun | masc pl soldados,soldadosoldier | noun | masc pl solteros,solterosingle man, single person, bachelor | noun | masc pl | used for men or mixed groups casadoscasadomarried man, married person | noun | masc pl | used for men or mixed groups
Amantes,amantelover, mistress | noun | masc or fem pl andantesandantewalking | adj | masc or fem pl yyand | conj algunoalgunosomeone, one | pron | masc sing | alguno que otro = some of them, a few of them, one or two quequethat, than | conj | alguno que otro = some of them, a few of them, one or two otrootroother, another | adj | alguno que otro = some of them, a few of them, one or two
Curacurapriest, pastor | noun | masc sing despistaodespistadodistracted, lost in thought, absent-minded, scatterbrained, forgetful | adj | masc sing

[Verse 4]
Entreentreamong, between, in | prep gritosgritoshout, yell, scream, cry | noun | masc pl yyand | conj pitospitowhistle, horn; screech; token, chip; ace | noun | masc pl loslosthe | def art | masc pl españolitosespañol (españoles)Spaniard, Spanish person | noun | masc pl, dimin | used for men or mixed groups
Enormes,enormeenormous, huge, gigantic; large, big | adj | masc and fem pl bajitosbajopoor, below par; small, short | adj | masc pl | diminutive hacemoshacerto do, to make | verb | first pers pl pres porporfor; because of; by | prep | por una vez = for once unaunaone | indef art | fem sing | por una vez = for once vezveztime | noun | fem sing | por una vez = for once
Algoalgosomething | pron aato, into, by | prep | a la vez = at the same time, all at once lalathe | def art | fem sing | a la vez = at the same time, all at once vezveztime | noun | fem sing | a la vez = at the same time, all at once

[Chorus]
Yyand | conj enenin, on, during | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing relojrelojwatch, clock, hourglass, sundail | noun | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep antaño,antañoformerly, in the past, previously, yesteryear | adv comocomolike, as, since | adv dedefrom, of | prep añoañoyear | noun | masc sing enenin, on, during | prep añoañoyear | noun | masc sing
Cincocincofive | adj minutosminutominute | noun | mas pl másmásmore, plus | adv paraparafor, to, in order to | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing cuentacuentasum; bill; account | noun | fem sing | cuenta atrás = countdown atrásatrásback, backwards; behind | adv | cuenta atrás = countdown
Hacemoshacerto do, to make | verb | first pers pl pres elelthe | def art | masc sing balancebalanceevaluation, assessment; balance, balance sheet, stocktaking | noun | masc sing dedefrom, of | prep lolothe | art | masc sing, neuter | lo + adj = what is, the + adj buenobuenogood | adj | masc sing yyand | conj malo,malobad, wicked, evil, mean | adj | masc sing
Cincocincofive | adj minutosminutominute | noun | mas pl antesantesfirst, before | adv dedefrom, of | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing cuentacuentasum; bill; account | noun | fem sing | cuenta atrás = countdown atrásatrásback, backwards; behind | adv | cuenta atrás = countdown

[Verse 5]
Aunqueaunqueeven though, although, even if | conj paraparafor, to, in order to | prep laslasthe | def art | fem pl uvasuvagrape | noun | fem pl hayhaberthere is, are | verb | third pers sing impersonal pres algunosalgunosomeone, one | pron | masc pl nuevosnuevonew, brand new; latest | adj | masc pl
Aano equivalent in EN | prep | personal a, used when dir obj a person loslosthem | pron | dir obj quequethat, than | conj yayanow, already | adv nononot | adv estánestarto be | verb | third pers pl pres echaremosecharthrow, toss; drop; throw out, kick out; fire, expel; tilt, lean; give off, emit | verb | first pers pl fut | 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
Yayanow, already | adv nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves, each other | pron | dir obj, indir obj, reflex, first pers pl espabilamosespabilarto wake up, liven up; pay attention, watch out | verb | first pers pl pres | espabilarse = wake yourself up, get a move on, get with it loslosthem | pron | dir obj quequethat, than | conj estamosestarto be | verb | first pers pl pres vivosvivoliving, alive; intense, deep, strong; quick, sharp, bright, clever | adj | masc pl
Yyand | conj enenin, on, during | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing añoañoyear | noun | masc sing quequethat, than | conj vienevenirto come | verb | third pers sing pres nosnosus, to us, for us, ourselves, each other | pron | dir obj, indir obj, reflex, first pers pl reímosreírto laugh | verb | first pers sing pres

[Verse 6]
Uno,unoone | adj dosdostwo | adj trestresthree | adj yyand | conj cuatrocuatrofour | adj yyand | conj empiezaempezarto start, begin | verb | third pers sing pres otraotroother; another, one more | adj | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing
Quequethat, than | conj lalathe | def art | fem sing quintaquintafifth; country house, country villa, vacation house; mansion | noun | fem sing esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres lalathe | def art | fem sing unaunaone | noun | fem sing yyand | conj lalathe | def art | fem sing sextasextasixth | adj | fem sing | adj used as noun esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres lalathe | def art | fem sing dosdostwo | adj | adj used as noun
Yyand | conj asíasílike this, like that, this way, that way | adv elelthe | def art | masc sing sietesieteseventh | noun | masc sing esserto be | verb | third pers sing pres trestresthree, third | adj

[Verse 7]
Yyand | conj decimosdecirto say, tell | verb | first pers pl pres adiósadiósgoodbye | adv yyand | conj pedimospedirto ask for, request; demand; order | verb | first pers pl pres aano equivalent in EN | prep | personal a, used when dir obj a person DiosDiosGod | noun | masc sing
Quequethat, than | conj enenin, on, during | prep elelthe | def art | masc sing añoañoyear | noun | masc sing quequethat, than | conj vienevenirto come | verb | third pers sing pres
Aato, into, by | prep | a ver = let's see ververto see | verb | infin | a ver = let's see sisiif | conj enenin, on, during | prep | en vez de = instead of vezveztime | noun | fem sing | en vez de = instead of dedefrom, of | prep | en vez de = instead of ununa | indef art | masc sing millónmillónmillion | noun | masc sing
Puedenpoderto be able to | verb | third pers pl pres serserto be | verb | infin dosdostwo | adj

[Verse 1]
Enenin, on, during | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing Puertapuertadoor; gate | noun | fem sing | Puerta del Sol = name of public square in Mardrid delde + elfrom the, of the | prep + def art | masc sing | Puerta del Sol = name of public square in Mardrid Solsolsun | noun | masc sing | Puerta del Sol = name of public square in Mardrid
Comocomolike, as, since | adv elelthe | def art | masc sing añoañoyear | noun | masc sing quequethat, than | conj fueserto be | verb | third pers sing pret
Otraotroother; another, one more | adj | fem sing vezveztime | noun | fem sing elelthe | def art | masc sing champánchampánchampagne | noun | masc sing yyand | conj laslasthe | def art | fem pl uvasuvagrape | noun | fem pl yyand | conj elelthe | def art | masc sing alquitránalquitrántar; asphalt, tarmac | noun | masc sing
Dedefrom, of | prep alfombraalfombrarug, carpet | noun | fem sing estánestarto be | verb | third pers pl pres

Lyrics with Translation

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

Un Año Más
One More Year

[Verse 1]
En la Puerta del Sol
In the Puerta del Sol
Como el año que fue
Like the year that was
Otra vez el champán y las uvas y el alquitrán
Once again the champagne and the grapes and the asphalt
De alfombra están
Are of carpet

[Verse 2]
Los petardos que borran sonidos de ayer
The firecrackers that erase yesterday’s sounds
Y acaloran el ánimo para aceptar
And they energize our spirits to accept
Que ya pasó uno más
That another one is now over

[Chorus]
Y en el reloj de antaño, como de año en año
And on the clock of yesteryear, as from year to year
Cinco minutos más para la cuenta atrás
Five more minutes to the countdown
Hacemos el balance de lo bueno y malo
We take stock of the good and the bad
Cinco minutos antes de la cuenta atrás
Five minutes before the countdown

[Verse 3]
Marineros, soldados, solteros, casados
Sailors, soldiers, single people, married people
Amantes, andantes y alguno que otro
Lovers, walkers and one or two
Cura despistao
Distracted priests

[Verse 4]
Entre gritos y pitos los españolitos
Between screams and whistles the Spaniards
Enormes, bajitos hacemos por una vez
Large, small, for once we do
Algo a la vez
Something at the same time

[Chorus]
Y en el reloj de antaño, como de año en año
And on the clock of yesteryear, as from year to year
Cinco minutos más para la cuenta atrás
Five more minutes to the countdown
Hacemos el balance de lo bueno y malo
We take stock of the good and the bad
Cinco minutos antes de la cuenta atrás
Five minutes before the countdown

[Verse 5]
Aunque para las uvas hay algunos nuevos
Although for the grapes there are some new ones
A los que ya no están echaremos de menos
Those who are no longer with us, we will miss
Ya nos espabilamos los que estamos vivos
We are already waking up, those of us who are alive
Y en el año que viene nos reímos
And in the coming year, we’ll laugh

[Verse 6]
Uno, dos, tres y cuatro y empieza otra vez
One, two, three and four and it starts again
Que la quinta es la una y la sexta es la dos
That the fifth is first and the sixth is the second
Y así el siete es tres
And in this way, the seventh is three

[Verse 7]
Y decimos adiós y pedimos a Dios
And we say goodbye and we ask God
Que en el año que viene
That in the coming year
A ver si en vez de un millón
Let’s see if instead of a million
Pueden ser dos
It can be two

[Verse 1]
En la Puerta del Sol
In the Puerta del Sol
Como el año que fue
Like the year that was
Otra vez el champán y las uvas y el alquitrán
Once again the champagne and the grapes and the asphalt
De alfombra están
Are of carpet

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Preterito:
  • Como el año que fue
  • Que ya pasó uno más

• Irregular:
  • estar:
    • De alfombra están
    • A los que ya no están echaremos de menos
    • Ya nos espabilamos los que estamos vivos
  • ser:
    • Que la quinta es la una y la sexta es la dos
    • Y así el siete es tres
  • hacer:
    • Hacemos el balance de lo bueno y malo
    • Enormes, bajitos hacemos por una vez
  • haber:
    • Aunque para las uvas hay algunos nuevos
• Stem-changing:
  • e -> ie
    • Y en el año que viene nos reímos
    • Uno, dos, tres y cuatro y empieza otra vez
    • Que en el año que viene
  • e -> i
    • Y decimos adiós y pedimos a Dios
  • u -> ue
    • Pueden ser dos

• Future:
  • A los que ya no están echaremos de menos

• Pronominal/Refexive:
  • Ya nos espabilamos los que estamos vivos
  • Y en el año que viene nos reímos