Apart from Spain being a wonderful country with beautiful beaches, mountainous ranges, and fabulous food (you should try their Paella!), the country also has a beautiful musical culture. The likes of classical flamenco and new pop music are taking over Spanish-speaking countries. So, today, we are all about Spanish music! We will explore the common Spanish music vocabulary you should know and common phrases you can use to start a conversation on this topic. Additionally, we will also check out some Spanish music artists you should be listening to! Let’s get right into it.
Spanish Music Vocabulary: Musical Instruments
Knowing the musical instruments in Spanish will come in handy, especially if you want to purchase a musical instrument or belong to a band. Let’s take a look!
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
| Instrument | el instrumento | |
| guitar | la guitarra | |
| saxophone | el saxofón | |
| violin | el violín | |
| trumpet | la trompeta | |
| flute | la flauta | |
| organ | el órgano | |
| harp | el arpa | |
| cymbals | los platillos | |
| cello | el violonchelo | |
| drums | la batería | |
| clarinet | el clarinete | |
| mandolin | la mandolina | |
| xylophone | el xilófono | |
| piano | el piano | |
| keyboard | el teclado | |
| tambourine | la pandereta | |
| double bass | el contrabajo | |
| amplifier | el amplificador | |
| accordion | el acordeón | |
| heavy metal | el heavy metal |
Music Genres In Spanish
Different people love different music genres, which makes the music world interesting. Find out some Spanish words for various music genres below!
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| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
| reggaeton | el reguetón | |
| jazz | el jazz | |
| rock | el rock | |
| opera | la ópera | |
| rap | el rap | |
| classical music | la música clásica | |
| disco music | la música disco | |
| pop music | la música pop | |
| country music | la música country | |
| folk music | la música folklórica | |
| modern music | la música moderna | |
| blues | el blues | |
| R&B (rhythm and blues) | el R&B | |
| tango | el tango | |
| hip-hop | el hip-hop | |
| lambada | la lambada | |
| reggae | el reggae | |
| bachata | la bachata |
Spanish Music Vocabulary: General Vocabulary
Let’s take a look at some general music vocabulary that will come in handy for everyday use.
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
| music | música | |
| singer | el/la cantante | |
| vocalist | el/la vocalista | |
| microphone | el micrófono | |
| song | la canción | |
| soloist | el/la solista | |
| rock band | la banda de rock | |
| vocalist | el vocalista | |
| record | el cassette | |
| tape | el sencillo | |
| stage | el escenario | |
| composer | el compositor | |
| note | la nota | |
| concert | el concierto | |
| musician | el músico | |
| lyrics | la letra | |
| symphony | la sinfonía | |
| duet | el dueto |
Musical Note Terms In Spanish
Are you a singer or a director? Then you will agree that knowing the Spanish word for musical notes will help you better communicate with your students and make teaching music easier. So, let’s check them out.
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
| chord | el acorde | |
| modulation | modulación | |
| minor | menor | |
| major | mayor | |
| duration | duración | |
| double bass | el contrabajo | |
| alto | la contralto | |
| polyphonic | polifónico | |
| homophonic | homofónico | |
| pitch | el tono | |
| bridge | el puente | |
| sequence | la secuencia | |
| octave | la octava | |
| staff | el pentagrama | |
| slur | la ligadura | |
| voice | la voz | |
| interval | el intervalo | |
| scale | la escala | |
| melody | la melodía | |
| accent | el acento | |
| baritone | el barítono | |
| soprano | la soprano | |
| tenor | el tenor | |
| music score | la partitura | |
| downbeat | tiempo fuerte | |
| beat | el pulso | |
| quarter note | la negra | |
| half note | la blanca | |
| double flat | la doble bemol | |
| flat | la bemol | |
| bass clef | la clave de Fa |
Popular Music Phrases To Start A Conversation
Want to start meaningful ‘musical’ conversations with a friend or a stranger the next time you travel to Spain? Then check out these popular music phrases that get the job done.
- Do you like music? – ¿Te gusta la música?
- Yes, I love it:- Sí, me encanta.
- What kind of music do you like? – ¿Qué clase de música te gusta?
- I love Banda – Me encanta la Banda.
- Who is your favorite singer? – ¿Quién es tu cantante favorito?
- My favorite singer is Juanes. – Mi cantante favorito es Juanes.
- Do you know this song? – ¿Conoces esta canción?
- Who’s playing? – ¿Quién toca?
- Do you know this band? – ¿Conoces esta banda?
3 Interesting Songs To Help You Practice Your Spanish
Of course, I won’t leave you without some great music in the Spanish language that you can sing to and improve your Spanish pronunciation and vocabulary. These songs also have catchy lyrics, so you don’t have to worry about being bored to death. Let’s take a look at these musicians and sons!
1. Despacito – Luis Fonsi
Yes, we mean the despacito you have heard of, and no, not the Justin Bieber version (sorry, guys!). The original track Despacito was released by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and had more than 90% of its lyrics in Spanish. The catchy lines and the Spanish lyrics make it one of the greatest songs to jam with as you learn the Spanish language.
2. Piensa En Mi – Luz Casal
Well, if you are into moody, heartbreak/sad songs instead, then you will enjoy Luz Casal version of Piensa En Mi, the way she sings each word provokes waves of emotions to run through your body. And one thing you will love is that the Spanish lyrics, when translated into English, make a lot of sense.
3. 19 Dias Y 500 Noches – Joaquin Sabina
If you’ve always been a fan of Spanish music, then you will know Sabina. Joaquin Sabina is one of the Spanish finest songwriters and singers, and the 19 Dias Y 500 Noches is one of the popular songs that won him numerous awards. More importantly, this song is also great for practicing your Spanish skills.
Final Thoughts
We don’t wish to end this article, but I am sure you were able to learn one or two Spanish music vocabulary that you can use for daily conversations. But that is not all! You can continue your Spanish learning process with the Ling App. So, what is the Ling App?
Learn Spanish With Ling
Ling App is a language learning app that teaches beginners their target language through intuitive features such as grammar lessons, quizzes, an AI chatbot, blogs, repetitive lessons based on your weaknesses, reminders, and so much more.
Apart from that, you can access the Ling blog, where you can read up on your target language. So, if you are serious about learning Spanish and are looking for a great app to help you, consider Ling App. So, what are you waiting for? Download the Ling App today from the Play Store and App Store!
