Waka Waka – English Lyrics

• By: Shakira
• Album: Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
soldier /ˈsoʊldʒər/ A2	noun - a person serving in an army
battle /ˈbætl/ B1	noun - a fight between armed forces verb - to struggle or fight persistently to achieve something
front /frʌnt/ A2	noun - the most forward part or position
line /laɪn/ A1	noun - a long, narrow mark or band
pressure /ˈpreʃər/ B1	noun - the exertion of force upon a surface
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
shine /ʃaɪn/ B1	verb - to give out a bright light
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
expectations /ˌekspekˈteɪʃənz/ B2	noun - a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A2	noun - a very brief period of time
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - each of the twenty-four-hour periods, reckoned from one midnight to the next, corresponding to a rotation of the earth on its axis
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method, style, or manner of doing something
Africa /ˈæfrɪkə/ A1	noun - the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent

Key Grammar Structures

• You're a good soldier, choosing your battles

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "You're" is a contraction of "you are," indicating an action happening now.

• Pick yourself up, and dust yourself off

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The verbs "Pick" and "dust" are in the imperative form, giving commands or instructions.

• And back in the saddle

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ The phrase "in the saddle" is a prepositional phrase meaning to be back in a position of control or activity.

• You know it's serious, we're getting closer

  ➔ Present continuous with "we're" (we are)

  ➔ "We're" is a contraction of "we are," used with the present participle "getting" to indicate an ongoing process.

• This time for Africa

  ➔ Prepositional phrase indicating purpose or occasion

  ➔ The phrase "for Africa" shows the purpose or theme of their action, emphasizing unity or identity.

• If you get down, get up, oh oh

  ➔ Imperative mood with "get" (commands)

  ➔ "Get" is used in the imperative form to give commands or encouragement to act.

• Tsamina mina zangalewa

  ➔ Repetition of phrases for emphasis

  ➔ The repeated phrase "Tsamina mina zangalewa" acts as a chant to emphasize the unity and spirit.