Pobre Secretaria – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Mariana Treviño
• Album: Mentiras La Serie

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of Spanish through "Pobre Secretaria," a captivating pop song interpreted by Mariana Treviño. This track, known from "Mentiras: La Serie," offers a unique window into Mexican pop culture and language. You can learn expressive vocabulary related to emotions and daily routines, and understand colloquialisms as you follow the poignant yet humorous story of a secretary's unrequited love. Its catchy melody and relatable narrative make it an engaging way to connect with Spanish.

[English]

Almost eight, I jump in the shower

No, I can't be late

Silk stockings, tight skirt

What makeup should I use?

Seven perfumes, painted nails

Something that can conquer

A bit of cleavage, something he'll notice

So he can't work

More daring, less princess

Being elegant, I'll be liked

More determined, less discreet

Irresistible, more than yesterday

I'm pulling out all the stops

I must find an elixir

Dear boss, you've done it

I don't know if I can hold on any longer

Look!, look at your secretary

Oh, sir, what pain!

Poor secretary

Ask her to copy "I love you" a hundred thousand times

Look!, look at your secretary

Oh, sir, what pain!

Poor secretary

I think she's close to going crazy

The door opens, I'm open-mouthed

I feel faint, a certain something

"Come to the office," a manly tone

I arm myself with pencil and paper

For a note, for a date

For a compliment, what should I do?

Soft skin, hazel eyes

I'll die of indifference

That smile, wonderful

Of an irresistible seducer

And that executive charm

Has broken my heart in two

I fall into your arms, give me a hug

Because there's no better antidote

Call me slave, call me baby

And don't ignore me, please

Look!, look at your secretary

Oh, sir, what pain!

Poor secretary

Ask her to copy "I love you" a hundred thousand times

Look!, look at your secretary

Oh, sir, what pain!

Poor secretary

I think she's close to going crazy

...

[Spanish]

Casi las ocho, salto a la ducha

No, no me puedo retrasar

Medias de seda, falda apretada

¿Qué maquillaje habré de usar?

Siete perfumes, uñas pintadas

Algo que pueda conquistar

Algo de escote, algo que note

Que no lo deje trabajar

Más atrevida, menos princesa

Siendo elegante gustaré

Más decidida, menos discreta

Irresistible, más que ayer

Tiro la casa por la ventana

Un elixir he de encontrar

Jefe querido, lo has conseguido

No sé si puedo aguantar más

¡Fíjate!, fíjate en tu secretaria

Ay, señor, ¡qué dolor!

Pobre secretaria

Pídele que copie cien mil veces "Yo te amo"

¡Fíjate!, fíjate en tu secretaria

Ay, señor, ¡qué dolor!

Pobre secretaria

Creo que le falta poco para enloquecer

Se abre la puerta, yo boquiabierta

Siento un desmayo, un no sé qué

"Venga al despacho", tono de macho

Me armo de lápiz y papel

Por una nota, por una cita

¿Por un piropo qué he de hacer?

Piel de franela, ojos canela

De indiferencia moriré

Esa sonrisa, maravillosa

De irresistible seductor

Y ese atractivo de ejecutivo

Me ha roto en dos el corazón

Caigo en tus brazos, dame un abrazo

Que no hay antídoto mejor

Llámame esclava, llámame nena

Y no me ignores, por favor

¡Fíjate!, fíjate en tu secretaria

Ay, señor, ¡qué dolor!

Pobre secretaria

Pídele que copie cien mil veces "Yo te amo"

¡Fíjate!, fíjate en tu secretaria

Ay, señor, ¡qué dolor!

Pobre secretaria

Creo que le falta poco para enloquecer

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
secretaria /se.kɾeˈta.ɾja/ A2	noun - secretary (female)
pobre /ˈpo.βɾe/ A1	adjective - poor (lacking money); poor (unfortunate, pitiful)
ducha /ˈdu.t͡ʃa/ A2	noun - shower (the act or the apparatus)
retrasar /re.tɾaˈsaɾ/ B1	verb - to delay, to postpone
falda /ˈfal.da/ A2	noun - skirt
maquillaje /ma.kiˈʝa.xe/ B1	noun - makeup, cosmetics
conquistar /koŋ.kisˈtaɾ/ B1	verb - to conquer; to win over (someone's affection); to achieve
escote /esˈko.te/ B2	noun - neckline (of a garment); cleavage
atrevida /a.tɾeˈβi.ða/ B1	adjective - daring, bold, cheeky (feminine)
jefe /ˈxe.fe/ A2	noun - boss, chief, leader
aguantar /a.ɣwanˈtaɾ/ B1	verb - to bear, to endure, to tolerate; to hold (up/on)
dolor /doˈloɾ/ A2	noun - pain, ache; sorrow, grief
enloquecer /en.lo.keˈseɾ/ B2	verb - to go crazy, to madden, to drive someone crazy
desmayo /dezˈma.ʝo/ B2	noun - faint, swoon, dizziness
piropo /piˈɾo.po/ B2	noun - compliment (often flirtatious or a catcall)
indiferencia /in.di.feˈɾen.sja/ B2	noun - indifference, apathy
seductor /se.ðukˈtoɾ/ B2	adjective - seductive, charming, alluring noun - seducer, charmer
corazón /ko.ɾaˈson/ A1	noun - heart (organ); heart (emotions, core); courage
abrazo /aˈβɾa.so/ A2	noun - hug, embrace
esclava /esˈkla.βa/ B2	noun - slave (female) adjective - enslaved, slave-like (feminine)

Key Grammar Structures

• No, no me puedo retrasar

  ➔ Poder + Infinitive

  ➔ The verb "poder" (to be able to, can) followed by an infinitive expresses ability, possibility, or permission. Here, "no me "puedo" "retrasar"" means "I cannot be late/delay myself."

• ¿Qué maquillaje habré de usar?

  ➔ Haber de + Infinitive

  ➔ The structure ""haber de" + infinitive" expresses obligation, necessity, or a future action, often with a nuance of duty or predetermination. Here, ""habré de usar"" means "am I to use?" or "should I use?"

• Algo que pueda conquistar

  ➔ Subjunctive with Indefinite Antecedents

  ➔ The subjunctive mood is used in clauses modifying an indefinite or non-existent antecedent. Here, ""algo"" (something) is indefinite because the speaker doesn't know exactly *what* it is, only that it *might* have the quality of conquering. Therefore, ""pueda"" (from "poder") is in the subjunctive.

• Que no lo deje trabajar

  ➔ Subjunctive expressing Purpose/Result

  ➔ The ""que"" clause here introduces a purpose or desired result. The speaker wants to wear something in order *that* her boss *doesn't* work. When expressing purpose, desire, or influence, the subjunctive mood is used in the dependent clause.

• Siendo elegante gustaré

  ➔ Gerund (Siendo) expressing condition/manner

  ➔ The gerund ""siendo"" (being) is used here to express the condition or manner by which the speaker believes she will achieve her goal. It translates to "By being elegant, I will please" or "If I am elegant, I will please." This use of the gerund is common to indicate cause, manner, or simultaneous action.

• Lo has conseguido

  ➔ Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto (Present Perfect)

  ➔ The ""pretérito perfecto compuesto"" (present perfect) is formed with the present tense of "haber" + past participle. It's used to describe actions completed in the recent past or actions that started in the past and continue to have relevance in the present. Here, ""has conseguido"" means "you have achieved/managed (it)."

• ¡Fíjate!

  ➔ Reflexive Imperative (Tú form)

  ➔ This is an informal ("tú") imperative command for the reflexive verb "fijarse" (to notice/pay attention). The reflexive pronoun ""te"" is attached directly to the end of the conjugated verb form, and an accent mark is added to maintain the original stress.

• Pídele que copie cien mil veces "Yo te amo"

  ➔ Imperative + Subjunctive (Indirect Command)

  ➔ This structure combines an imperative command (""Pídele"" - Ask him/her/them) with a subordinate clause in the subjunctive (""que copie"") to express an indirect command or request. The main verb (""Pídele"") expresses a desire, influence, or request, which triggers the subjunctive.

• Me armo de lápiz y papel

  ➔ Reflexive Verb (Armarse de)

  ➔ ""Armarse de"" is a reflexive verb phrase meaning "to arm oneself with" or "to prepare oneself with." The reflexive form "armarse" often takes on an idiomatic meaning, emphasizing the subject's action of equipping themselves. Here, it means she ""equips herself with"" or "gathers" pencil and paper.

• De indiferencia moriré

  ➔ Simple Future Tense

  ➔ The simple future tense (""moriré"" - I will die) is used here to express a future certainty or a strong prediction about a consequence. The speaker states her death as a definite outcome, even if hyperbolic, implying an unpreventable future event.