Spanish Songs, Translated

🎶 Latin Duo Series: When Two Big Voices Collide

This post is part of my ongoing Latin Duo Songs series, where I break down collaborations that are not just catchy, but linguistically interesting for Spanish learners.

Over the last few days on the blog, we’ve looked at:

• Shakira with Alejandro Sanz
• Maluma with Jennifer Lopez
• Camilo with Evaluna
• Aitana with Morat

Chantaje fits right into this list. It’s iconic, playful, and full of tension. But it’s also harder than it sounds.

This song mixes:

• fast pronunciation
• dropped final consonants
• slang and informal grammar
• shifting perspectives between two singers

So while the chorus is easy to sing along to, understanding every line takes work. This is solid B1 listening, not beginner level.

1. 🎶 Latin Duo Series: When Two Big Voices Collide
2. ▶️ Listen to the Song
3. 🎵 Chantaje – Spanish → English Translation [Shakira & Maluma]
4. 📘 Vocabulary Builder
5. 🧠 Quiz Yourself: Grammar & Vocabulary Only
6. ✨ Final Thoughts: When Understanding Takes Time

▶️ Listen to the Song

🎧 Shakira & Maluma – Chantaje (Official Video)

Enjoy the excellent dancing skills and then continue forward —>

🎵 Chantaje – Spanish → English Translation [Shakira & Maluma]

Cuando estás bien te alejas de mí

When you’re fine, you pull away from me

Te sientes sola y siempre estoy ahí

You feel lonely and I’m always there

Es una guerra de toma y dame

It’s a give-and-take war

Pues dame de eso que tienes ahí

So give me some of what you’ve got there

Oye baby, no seas mala

Hey baby, don’t be mean

No me dejes con las ganas

Don’t leave me wanting

Se escucha en la calle

People say in the streets

Que ya no me quieres

That you don’t love me anymore

Ven y dímelo en la cara

Come and tell me to my face

[Shakira]

Pregúntale a quien tú quieras

Ask whoever you want

Vida, te juro que eso no es así

Love, I swear that’s not true

Yo nunca tuve una mala intención

I never had bad intentions

Yo nunca quise burlarme de ti

I never wanted to make fun of you

Conmigo ves, nunca se sabe

With me, you see, you never know

Un día digo que no, y otro que sí

One day I say no, another day yes

[Shakira & Maluma]

Yo soy masoquista

I’m a masochist

Con mi cuerpo un egoísta

With my body, an egoist

Tú eres puro, puro chantaje

You are pure, pure blackmail

Siempre es a tu manera

It’s always your way

Yo te quiero aunque no quiera

I love you even when I don’t want to

Vas libre como el aire

You move free like the air

No soy de ti ni de nadie

I don’t belong to you or anyone

[Maluma]

Como tú me tientas cuando tú te mueves

The way you tempt me when you move

Esos movimientos sexys siempre me entretienen

Those sexy moves always entertain me

Sabes manipularme bien con tus caderas

You know how to manipulate me with your hips

No sé por qué me tienes en lista de espera

I don’t know why you keep me waiting

[Shakira]

Te dicen por ahí que voy haciendo y deshaciendo

They say around that I do whatever I want

Que salgo cada noche, que te tengo ahí sufriendo

That I go out every night and keep you suffering

Que en esta relación soy yo la que manda

That in this relationship, I’m the one in charge

No pares bolas a toda esa mala propaganda

Don’t pay attention to all that bad talk

Pa’, pa’ que te digo na’

Why should I even tell you anything

Te comen el oído

They fill your head with nonsense

No vayas a enderezar lo que nació torcido

Don’t try to straighten what was born crooked

[Maluma]

Y como un loco sigo tras de ti

And like a madman I keep chasing you

Muriendo por ti

Dying for you

Dime qué hay pa’ mí, bebé

Tell me what’s in it for me, baby

[Chorus repeats]

📘 Vocabulary Builder

Recommended level: B1

Spanish	English	Notes
chantaje	blackmail	Central concept
tentar	to tempt	Common verb
burlarse de	to make fun of	Reflexive
manipular	to manipulate	Emotional power
lista de espera	waiting list	Metaphorical

Spoken & Informal Spanish

Spanish	Meaning
pa’	para
no pares bolas	don’t pay attention
te comen el oído	they fill your head
na’	nada

🧠 Quiz Yourself: Grammar & Vocabulary Only

Choose the correct option.

Answers are hidden below.

1️⃣ What does “chantaje” mean in this song?

A. A compliment

B. A lie

C. A promise

D. Blackmail

2️⃣ In “no pares bolas”, what does the phrase mean?

A. Don’t pay attention

B. Don’t get angry

C. Don’t argue

D. Don’t leave

3️⃣ What does “lista de espera” imply emotionally?

A. Planning

B. Patience

C. Being kept waiting

D. Commitment

4️⃣ “Burlarme de ti” uses which verb structure?

A. Infinitive

B. Past tense

C. Passive voice

D. Reflexive verb

5️⃣ What does “pa’” stand for?

A. Para

B. Por

C. Pero

D. Porque

Answers

1-D, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D, 5-A

✨ Final Thoughts: When Understanding Takes Time

Chantaje is playful, messy, fast, and full of power dynamics. It doesn’t slow down for the listener, and that’s exactly why it’s useful once you move past beginner Spanish.

If you can follow this song, even imperfectly, you are training your ear for real conversational Spanish, not textbook lines.

If you want help decoding fast songs like this, understanding slang, and building listening confidence step by step:

📩 Write to me at

effietrumpet19@gmail.com

Because natural language isn’t always spoken syllable-by-syllable. But with practice, it becomes familiar. And that’s what we’re aiming for!