Gitana – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Shakira
• Album: She Wolf

Lyrics & Translation

[Spanish]

[English]

Nunca usé un antifaz

I never wore a mask

Voy de paso por este mundo fugaz

I pass through this fleeting world

No pretendo parar

I don't intend to stop

Dime, ¿quién camina cuando se puede volar?

Tell me, who walks when you can fly?

Mi destino es andar

My destiny is to wander

Mis recuerdos son una estela en el mar

My memories are a trail in the sea

Lo que tengo, lo doy

What I have, I give

Digo lo que pienso, tómame como soy

I say what I think, take me as I am

Y va liviano

And it goes lightly

Mi corazón gitano

My gypsy heart

Que sólo entiende de latir a contramano

That only understands beating against the current

No intentes amarrarme

Don't try to tie me down

Ni dominarme

Or dominate me

Yo soy quien elige cómo equivocarme

I am the one who chooses how to make mistakes

Aprovéchame

Take advantage of me

Que, si llegué ayer, me puedo ir mañana

Because if I arrived yesterday, I can leave tomorrow

Que soy gitana

Because I am a gypsy

Que soy gitana

Because I am a gypsy

...

...

Sigo siendo aprendiz

I still remain a learner

En cada beso y con cada cicatriz

In every kiss and with every scar

Algo pude entender

I could understand something

De tanto que tropiezo, ya sé cómo caer

From all the stumbling, I already know how to fall

Y va liviano

And it goes lightly

Mi corazón gitano

My gypsy heart

Que sólo entiende de latir a contramano

That only understands beating against the current

No intentes amarrarme

Don't try to tie me down

Ni dominarme

Or dominate me

Yo soy quien elige cómo equivocarme

I am the one who chooses how to make mistakes

Aprovéchame

Take advantage of me

Que, si llegué ayer, me puedo ir mañana

Because if I arrived yesterday, I can leave tomorrow

Que soy gitana

Because I am a gypsy

Vamos y vemos

Let's go and see

Que la vida es un goce

Because life is a joy

Es normal que le temas a lo que no conoces

It's normal to fear what you don't know

Tómame y vamos

Take me and let's go

Que la vida es un goce

Because life is a joy

Es normal que le temas a lo que no conoces

It's normal to fear what you don't know

Quiero verte volar

I want to see you fly

Quiero verte volar

I want to see you fly

Y va liviano

And it goes lightly

Mi corazón gitano

My gypsy heart

Que sólo entiende de latir a contramano

That only understands beating against the current

No intentes amarrarme

Don't try to tie me down

Ni dominarme

Or dominate me

Yo soy quien elige cómo equivocarme

I am the one who chooses how to make mistakes

Aprovéchame

Take advantage of me

Que, si llegué ayer, me puedo ir mañana

Because if I arrived yesterday, I can leave tomorrow

Que soy gitana

Because I am a gypsy

...

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
antifaz /antiˈfahz/ B2	noun - mask
paso /ˈpɑso/ A2	noun - step
mundo /ˈmundo/ A2	noun - world
destino /desˈtino/ B1	noun - destiny
recuerdo /reˈkwerðo/ B1	noun - memory
estela /esˈtela/ B2	noun - wake, trail
digo /ˈdigo/ A2	verb - I say
gitan@ /xɪˈtana/ B2	noun - gypsy
latir /laˈtiɾ/ B2	verb - to beat (heart)
amarrar /amaˈrar/ B2	verb - to tie
dominar /domiˈnar/ B2	verb - to dominate
quien /ˈkjen/ A2	pronoun - who
cómo /ˈkomo/ A2	adverb - how
equivocarme /ekwiboˈkaɾme/ C1	verb - to make mistakes
vivir /biˈβiɾ/ B1	verb - to live
goce /ˈɡoθe/ B2	noun - joy, pleasure
temas /ˈtema/ A2	noun - themes, topics
conoces /koˈnosez/ B1	verb - you know (familiarity)

Key Grammar Structures

• Nunca usé un antifaz

  ➔ Past simple tense to indicate a completed action.

  ➔ The phrase "Nunca usé" means "I never used".

• Dime, ¿quién camina cuando se puede volar?

  ➔ Indirect question structure.

  ➔ The phrase "¿quién camina...?" translates to "who walks...?" in an indirect question.

• Mis recuerdos son una estela en el mar

  ➔ Present simple tense to express a general truth.

  ➔ The phrase "Mis recuerdos son..." means "My memories are..." indicating a state of being.

• Yo soy quien elige cómo equivocarme

  ➔ Relative pronoun 'quien' to introduce a clause.

  ➔ The phrase "Yo soy quien..." translates to "I am the one who..." indicating agency.

• Que la vida es un goce

  ➔ Subjunctive mood to express desire or emotion.

  ➔ The phrase "Que la vida es..." translates to "That life is..." expressing a sentiment.

• Quiero verte volar

  ➔ Infinitive form to express desire.

  ➔ The phrase "Quiero verte..." means "I want to see you..." indicating a wish.