Guantanamera – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Celia Cruz

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the rhythm and soul of Cuba with "Guantanamera" by the legendary Celia Cruz! This iconic song, with its origins in Cuban folk traditions and the timeless poetry of José Martí, offers a vibrant entry point into the Spanish language and Cuban culture. You can learn rich vocabulary related to patriotism, human connection, and nature, while experiencing the powerful and improvisational nature of salsa music that made Celia Cruz the "Queen of Salsa." Its simple yet profound lyrics, combined with an infectious melody, make it an engaging way to explore the beauty and spirit of the Spanish-speaking world.

[English]

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

From my sovereign Cuba

I remember that murmur

Of the river by the hut

That was a Cuban picture

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

Freedom was a trophy

That the Mambi won for us

With the words of Martí

And the machete of Maceo

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

I am a sincere man, said Martí

From where the palm tree grows

...

And before I die, I want

To sing my verses from the soul

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

...

I grow a white rose

In June as in January

...

For the sincere friend

Who gives me his honest hand

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

...

Guantanamera

Country girl from Guantánamo

...

[Spanish]

Guantamera

Guajira, Guantamera

Guantamera

Guajira, Guantamera

De mi Cuba soberana

Recuerdo aquel murmurillo

Del río junto al bohío

Que era una estampa cubana

Guantanamera

Guajira, Guantanamera

Guantanamera

Guajira, Guantanamera

La libertad fue un trofeo

Que nos conquistó el mambí

Con el verbo de Martí

Y el machete de Maceo

Guantanamera

Guajira, guantanamera

Guantanamera

Guajira, guantanamera

Yo soy un hombre sincero, dijo Martí

De donde crece la palma

Y antes de morirme quiero

Cantar mis versos del alma

Guantanamera

Guajira, guantanamera

Guantanamera

Guajira, guantanamera

Cultivo una rosa blanca

En junio como en enero

Para el amigo sincero

Que me da su mano franca

Guantanamera

Guajira, guantanamera

Guantanamera

Guajira, guantanamera

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Guajira /ɡwaˈxi.ɾa/ B1	noun - A Cuban country girl or woman.
Cuba /ˈkjuː.bə/ A1	noun - An island country in the Caribbean.
soberana /so.βeˈɾa.na/ B2	adjective - Sovereign, independent.
recuerdo /reˈkwer.ðo/ A2	noun - Memory, remembrance. verb - I remember
río /ˈri.o/ A1	noun - River.
junto /ˈxun.to/ A2	adjective - Together, close.
bohío /boˈi.o/ B2	noun - Hut, cabin (typically in the Caribbean).
estampa /esˈtam.pa/ B2	noun - Print, image, scene.
libertad /li.βeɾˈtað/ B1	noun - Freedom, liberty.
trofeo /t̪ɾoˈfe.o/ B2	noun - Trophy.
verbo /ˈbeɾ.βo/ B2	noun - Word, speech, eloquence.
hombre /ˈom.bɾe/ A1	noun - Man.
sincero /sinˈθe.ɾo/ B1	adjective - Sincere, genuine.
palma /ˈpal.ma/ A2	noun - Palm tree.
morirme /moˈɾiɾ.me/ B1	verb - To die (reflexive).
versos /ˈber.sos/ B1	noun - Verses, poems.
alma /ˈal.ma/ A2	noun - Soul.
cultivo /kulˈti.βo/ B1	verb - I cultivate, I grow.
rosa /ˈro.sa/ A1	noun - Rose.
blanca /ˈblan.ka/ A1	adjective - White.
amigo /aˈmi.ɣo/ A1	noun - Friend.
mano /ˈma.no/ A1	noun - Hand.
franca /ˈfɾaŋ.ka/ B2	adjective - Frank, open, sincere.

Key Grammar Structures

• De mi Cuba soberana

  ➔ Genitive construction with 'de' + possessive pronoun + noun

  ➔ 'De' expresses possession or belonging, similar to 'of' in English.

• Recuerdo aquel murmurillo

  ➔ Use of the noun 'recuerdo' (reminder/memory) in the singular to express a specific memory

  ➔ 'Recuerdo' is a noun meaning 'remembrance' or 'memory', used here to evoke a specific past event.

• Cultivo una rosa blanca

  ➔ Use of the verb 'cultivar' in the present indicative for a habitual or poetic action

  ➔ The verb 'cultivar' means 'to cultivate' or 'to grow,' here used poetically to represent nurturing or developing values.

• Yo soy un hombre sincero, dijo Martí

  ➔ Use of the present tense 'soy' + 'un hombre sincero' to describe identity or qualities

  ➔ 'Soy' is the first person singular of 'ser' (to be), used here to state identity.

• Con el verbo de Martí

  ➔ Prepositional phrase 'con' + noun referring to 'Martí' indicating means or association

  ➔ 'Con' is a preposition meaning 'with', indicating that something is associated with Martí or using Martí's 'verb'.