Waka Waka – English Lyrics

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

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the energetic rhythm and inspiring message of Shakira's "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," the official anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This vibrant fusion of African and Latin sounds offers a fantastic opportunity to explore different cultures and learn motivational phrases, all while enjoying an iconic global hit.

[English]

(crowd cheering)

(thunder rumbling)

♪ Oh ♪

(upbeat music)

(singing in foreign language)

♪ You're a good soldier, choosing your battles ♪

♪ Pick yourself up, and dust yourself off ♪

♪ And back in the saddle ♪

♪ You're on the front line, everyone's watching ♪

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

♪ This isn't over ♪

♪ The pressure's on, you feel it ♪

♪ But you got it all, believe it ♪

♪ When you fall, get up, oh oh ♪

♪ And if you fall, get up, eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa, 'cause this is Africa ♪

♪ Tsamina mina eh eh ♪

♪ Waka waka eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa, this time for Africa ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ Listen to your God, this is our motto ♪

♪ Your time to shine, don't wait in line ♪

♪ Y vamos por todo ♪

♪ People are raising their expectations ♪

♪ Go on and feed them, this is your moment ♪

♪ No hesitation ♪

♪ Today's your day, I feel it ♪

♪ You paved the way, believe it ♪

♪ If you get down, get up, oh oh ♪

♪ When you get down, get up, eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa, this time for Africa ♪

♪ Tsamina mina eh eh ♪

♪ Waka waka eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa, anawa ah ah ♪

♪ Tsamina mina eh eh ♪

♪ Waka waka eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa, this time for Africa ♪

(singing in foreign language)

♪ 'Cause this is Africa ♪

♪ Africa, Africa ♪

♪ Tsamina mina ♪

♪ Anawa ah ah ♪

♪ Tsamina mina ♪

♪ Tsamina mina ♪

♪ Anawa ah ah ♪

♪ Tsamina mina eh eh ♪

♪ Waka waka eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa anawa ah ah ♪

♪ Tsamina mina eh eh ♪

♪ Waka waka eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa, this time for Africa ♪

♪ Tango eh eh ♪

♪ Tango eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa anawa ah ah ♪

♪ Tango eh eh ♪

♪ Tango eh eh ♪

♪ Tsamina mina zangalewa anawa ah ah ♪

♪ This time for Africa ♪

♪ This time for Africa ♪

- We're all Africa.

We're all Africa.

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.