Do you love music and want to expand your Spanish vocabulary? Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a language learner, or a musician, knowing how to talk about music in Spanish will deepen your appreciation for Hispanic culture and improve your fluency.
In this guide, we’ll explore essential Spanish music terms, including:
- Common phrases to discuss music 🎤
- Names of music genres 🎶
- Musical instruments in Spanish 🎸
- Useful verbs for musicians 🎹
- Music notation & theory terms 🎼
Each term includes real-life example sentences with English translations so you can see how to use them naturally.
Why Learn Music Vocabulary in Spanish?
Music is a universal language, and Spanish-speaking artists have made massive contributions to global music—from flamenco and salsa to reggaeton and Latin pop. Learning these terms will help you:
✅ Understand song lyrics 🎵
✅ Discuss music with native speakers 💬
✅ Enhance your listening skills 🎧
✅ Appreciate Hispanic culture more deeply 🌎
Plus, music vocabulary makes learning Spanish more fun and engaging!
How to Talk About Music in Spanish
Basic Phrases for Discussing Music
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Te gusta esta canción? | Do you like this song? | ¿Te gusta esta canción de Shakira? | Do you like this Shakira song? |
| Me encanta esta música. | I love this music. | Me encanta la música clásica. | I love classical music. |
| No me gusta ese género. | I don’t like that genre. | No me gusta el reggaetón. | I don’t like reggaeton. |
| Es muy pegajosa. | It’s very catchy. | Esta canción es muy pegajosa. | This song is very catchy. |
| La letra es profunda. | The lyrics are deep. | La letra de esta balada es profunda. | The lyrics of this ballad are deep. |
| El ritmo es increíble. | The rhythm is amazing. | El ritmo de la salsa es increíble. | The rhythm of salsa is amazing. |
Adjectives to Describe Music
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonita / Hermosa | Beautiful | La melodía es muy bonita. | The melody is very beautiful. |
| Emocionante | Exciting | El concierto fue emocionante. | The concert was exciting. |
| Relajante | Relaxing | Esta música es relajante. | This music is relaxing. |
| Energética | Energetic | La música rock es muy energética. | Rock music is very energetic. |
| Romántica | Romantic | Me gusta la música romántica. | I like romantic music. |
| Triste | Sad | Esta canción es triste pero hermosa. | This song is sad but beautiful. |
| Alegre | Happy | La música alegre me anima. | Happy music cheers me up. |
| Repetitiva | Repetitive | Esta canción es un poco repetitiva. | This song is a bit repetitive. |
Music Genres in Spanish
Latin Music Genres
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salsa | Salsa | Bailamos salsa toda la noche. | We danced salsa all night. |
| Flamenco | Flamenco | El flamenco es típico de España. | Flamenco is typical of Spain. |
| Reggaetón | Reggaeton | El reggaetón es muy popular. | Reggaeton is very popular. |
| Bachata | Bachata | Aprendí a bailar bachata. | I learned to dance bachata. |
| Cumbia | Cumbia | La cumbia tiene un ritmo divertido. | Cumbia has a fun rhythm. |
International Music Genres
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop | Pop | Escucho pop en la radio. | I listen to pop on the radio. |
| Jazz | Jazz | El jazz es sofisticado. | Jazz is sophisticated. |
| Rock | Rock | Toco la guitarra en una banda de rock. | I play guitar in a rock band. |
| Electrónica | Electronic | La música electrónica es buena para bailar. | Electronic music is great for dancing. |
Musical Instruments in Spanish
For complete list you can go to the List of Musical Instruments in Spanish Page!
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| La guitarra | Guitar | Toco la guitarra desde niño. | I’ve played guitar since I was a kid. |
| El piano | Piano | Mi hermana estudia piano. | My sister studies piano. |
| El violín | Violin | El violín suena hermoso. | The violin sounds beautiful. |
| La batería | Drums | El baterista es increíble. | The drummer is amazing. |
| La trompeta | Trumpet | La trompeta es un instrumento de viento. | The trumpet is a wind instrument. |
Music-Related Verbs
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cantar | To sing | Ella canta en un coro. | She sings in a choir. |
| Tocar (un instrumento) | To play (an instrument) | Toco el piano desde los 5 años. | I’ve played piano since I was 5. |
| Bailar | To dance | Nos encanta bailar salsa. | We love dancing salsa. |
| Escuchar | To listen | Escucho música mientras estudio. | I listen to music while studying. |
| Componer | To compose | Él compone canciones para películas. | He composes songs for movies. |
Music Theory & Notation Terms
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| El ritmo | Rhythm | El ritmo de esta canción es rápido. | The rhythm of this song is fast. |
| La melodía | Melody | La melodía es fácil de recordar. | The melody is easy to remember. |
| El acorde | Chord | Este acorde suena bien. | This chord sounds good. |
| La nota | Note | Toca la nota correcta. | Play the right note. |
| El compás | Measure/Bar | Hay cuatro tiempos en este compás. | There are four beats in this measure. |
Final Thoughts: Practice Your Spanish with Music!
Now that you’ve learned these essential Spanish music terms, try using them in conversations or while listening to songs. A great way to reinforce your learning is by:
🎧 Listening to Spanish music (Shakira, Bad Bunny, Rosalía, etc.)
💬 Discussing songs with native speakers
📝 Writing down lyrics and translating them
Test Yourself: Try making your own sentences with these words!
