A Word In Spanish – English Lyrics

• By: Elton John
• Album: Reg Strikes Back

Lyrics & Translation

Unlock the power of a single word with Elton John's "A Word In Spanish." This song beautifully illustrates how language can be both a barrier and a bridge to expressing our deepest feelings. For language learners, it's a perfect example of how emotion can be conveyed even when a word isn't fully understood, highlighting the romantic and evocative nature of the Spanish language.

[English]

(gentle upbeat music)

♪ I don't know why ♪

♪ I just know I do ♪

♪ I just can't explain ♪

♪ In this language that I use ♪

♪ Something leaves me speechless ♪

♪ Each time that you approach ♪

♪ Each time you glide right through me ♪

♪ As if I was a ghost ♪

♪ If I only could tell ya ♪

♪ If you only would listen ♪

♪ I've got a line or two to use on you ♪

♪ I've got a romance we could christen ♪

♪ And there's a word in Spanish I don't understand ♪

♪ But I heard it in a film one time ♪

♪ Spoken by the leading man ♪

♪ He said it with devotion ♪

♪ He sounded so sincere ♪

♪ And the words he spoke in Spanish ♪

♪ Brought the female lead to tears ♪

♪ A word in Spanish ♪

♪ A word in Spanish ♪

♪ If you can't comprehend ♪

♪ Read it in my eyes ♪

♪ If you don't understand it's love ♪

♪ In a thin disguise ♪

♪ And what it takes to move you ♪

♪ Each time that you resist ♪

♪ Is more than just a pretty face ♪

♪ To prove that I exist ♪

♪ If I only could tell ya ♪

♪ If you only would listen ♪

♪ I've got a line or two to use on you ♪

♪ I've got a romance we could christen ♪

♪ And there's a word in Spanish I don't understand ♪

♪ But I heard it in a film one time ♪

♪ Spoken by the leading man ♪

♪ He said it with devotion ♪

♪ He sounded so sincere ♪

♪ And the words he spoke in Spanish ♪

♪ Brought the female lead to tears ♪

♪ A word in Spanish ♪

♪ A word in Spanish ♪

♪ When manners make no difference ♪

♪ And my gifts all lay undone ♪

♪ I trade my accent in on chance ♪

♪ And fall back on a foreign tongue ♪

(gentle upbeat music continues)

♪ And there's a word in Spanish I don't understand ♪

♪ But I heard it in a film one time ♪

♪ Spoken by the leading man ♪

♪ He said it with devotion ♪

♪ He sounded so sincere ♪

♪ And the words he spoke in Spanish ♪

♪ Brought the female lead to tears ♪

♪ Oh, a word in Spanish ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, a word in Spanish ♪

♪ There's a word in Spanish ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, a word in Spanish ♪

(gentle upbeat music continues)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
explain /ɪkˈspleɪn/ A2	verb - to make something clear or easy to understand
speechless /ˈspiːtʃləs/ B1	adjective - unable to speak, especially because of shock or amazement
approach /əˈproʊtʃ/ B1	verb - to come near or nearer to something or someone in distance, time, or relationship
glide /ɡlaɪd/ B2	verb - to move with a smooth, quiet, continuous motion
ghost /ɡoʊst/ A1	noun - the soul of a dead person, thought of as appearing to living people
romance /roʊˈmæns/ B1	noun - a close, loving relationship between two people
christen /ˈkrɪsən/ B2	verb - to give a name to a baby or ship in a special ceremony
devotion /dɪˈvoʊʃən/ B2	noun - great love, loyalty, and care for someone or something
sincere /sɪnˈsɪr/ B1	adjective - honest and genuine in feeling or intention
comprehend /kəmˈprɛhɛnd/ B2	verb - to understand something fully
disguise /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ B2	noun - a way of hiding the truth about something
resist /rɪˈzɪst/ B1	verb - to fight against something that is attacking you
manners /ˈmænərz/ A2	noun - the way people behave toward each other, especially in social situations
accent /ˈæksɛnt/ B1	noun - the way a person speaks, especially with regard to the pronunciation of words
foreign /ˈfɔrən/ A2	adjective - belonging to or coming from another country