This summer even Bieber is learning Spanish! Have you been singing along to ‘Despacito’ with no clue about what you are singing?! Zaskia is here to help with the lyrics and a bite-sized Spanish lesson in one. 

Despa…¿Qué?

 Despacito is a Spanish diminutive of the word despacio, which in English means ‘slow’:

¿Puedes hablar más despacio? = Can you speak more slowly?

A diminutive takes regular Spanish words and changes the ending to slightly change the meaning. Common endings are ito or cito , but there are several options depending on whether the word is masculine or feminine and how it is spelled (ito/ita, cito/cita, quito/quita, illo/illa).

Typically diminutives either ‘minify‘, add a note of affection or endearment, add richness or a good vibe feeling, or in some cases add a demeaning element.  For example:

La casa (house) –> La casita (little house, home)
La chica (girl) –> La chiquita (little girl, honey)
El pobre (poor person) –> El pobrecito (poor baby)

 

So, what does despacito mean? It means something like ‘extra slowly’, with a connotation of a good vibe feeling.

As for the rest of the song, watch out for a few more diminutives:

Pasito – stems from paso which means ‘step’. Pasito is like ‘baby step’
Suavecito – stems from suave which means to be smooth or soft. So suavecito can be thought of as being ‘extra soft and smooth’ in a good vibes kind of way.

Poquito – stems from poco which means ‘little’. So poquito means something like ‘a little bit’.

 

Now you can sing along with a transcript in Spanish and English. Enjoy!

Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote
Tengo que bailar contigo hoy
Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome
Muéstrame el camino que yo voy (Oh)

Yes, you know that it’s already been a while that I’ve been looking at you
I have to dance with you today
I saw that your look was already calling me
Show me the way that I go (Oh)

Tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal
Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan
Solo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso
(Oh yeah)

You, you are the magnet and I am the metal
I’m getting closer and I’m putting together the plan
Just by thinking it my pulse accelerates (Oh yeah)

Ya, ya me está gustando más de lo normal
Todos mis sentidos van pidiendo más
Esto hay que tomarlo sin ningún apuro

Already, I’m liking it more than usual
All my senses are asking for more
This one must take it without any trouble

Despacito
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
Deja que te diga cosas al oído
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo

Nice and slow
I want to breathe your neck extra slowly
Let me tell you things in your ear
So that you remember if you’re not with me

Despacito
Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
Firmo en las paredes de tu laberinto
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito (sube, sube, sube)
(Sube, sube)

Nice and slow
I want to undress by extra slow kisses
Sign on the walls of your labyrinth
And make your whole body a manuscript (get up, get up, get up)
(Get up, get up)

Quiero ver bailar tu pelo
Quiero ser tu ritmo
que le enseñes a mi boca
tus lugares favoritos (favoritos, favoritos baby)

I want to see your hair dance
I want to be your rhythm
that you teach to my mouth
your favorite places (favorites, favorites baby)

Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro
hasta provocar tus gritos
y que olvides tu apellido

Let me surpass your danger zones
Until bringing on your screams
And that you forget your last name

Si te pido un beso ven dámelo
Yo sé que estás pensándolo
Llevo tiempo intentándolo
Mami, esto es dando y dándolo
Sabes que tu corazón conmigo te hace
bom, bom
Sabes que esa beba está buscando de mi
bom, bom
Ven prueba de mi boca para ver cómo te sabe
Quiero, quiero, quiero ver cuánto amor a ti te cabe
Yo no tengo prisa, yo me quiero dar el viaje
Empecemos lento, después salvaje

If I ask you for a kiss, come give it to me
I know that you are thinking it
It’s been a while I’ve been trying it
Mommy, this is giving and giving it
You know your heart with me makes you
boom, boom
You know that baby is looking for my
boom, boom
Come try from my mouth to see how it knows you
I want, I want, I want to see how much love it fits you
I’m not in a hurry, I want to give myself to the trip
Let’s start slow, then wild

Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
Cuando tú me besas con esa destreza
Veo que eres malicia con delicadeza

baby step by baby step, smooth, nice and smooth
We are sticking ourselves together, little bit by little bit
When you kiss me with that skill
I see you are wickedness with delicacy

Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
Y es que esa belleza es un rompecabezas
Pero pa’ montarlo aquí tengo la pieza

baby step by baby step, smooth, nice and smooth
We are sticking ourselves together, little bit by little bit
And it’s that beauty is a puzzle
But to assemble it here I have the piece

Despacito
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
Deja que te diga cosas al oído
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo

Nice and slow
I want to breathe your neck extra slowly
Let me tell you things in your ear
So that you remember if you’re not with me

Despacito
Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
Firmo en las paredes de tu laberinto
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito (sube, sube, sube)
(Sube, sube)

Nice and slow
I want to undress by extra slow kisses
Sign on the walls of your labyrinth
And make your whole body a manuscript (get up, get up, get up)
(Get up, get up)

Quiero ver bailar tu pelo
Quiero ser tu ritmo
que le enseñes a mi boca
tus lugares favoritos (favoritos, favoritos baby)

I want to see your hair dance
I want to be your rhythm
that you teach to my mouth
your favorite places (favorites, favorites baby)

Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro
Hasta provocar tus gritos
Y que olvides tu apellido

Let me surpass your danger zones
Until bringing on your screams
And that you forget your last name

Despacito.
Vamos a hacerlo en una playa en Puerto Rico
Hasta que las olas griten “¡ay, bendito!”
Para que mi sello se quede contigo

Nice and slow.
We’re going yo do it on a beach in Puerto Rico
Until the waves shout “oh my God!”
So that my stamp stays with you.

Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
que le enseñes a mi boca
tus lugares favoritos (favoritos, favoritos baby)

Baby step by baby step, smooth, nice and smooth
We are sticking ourselves together, little bit by little bit
that you teach to my mouth
your favorite places (favorites, favorites baby)

Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
Hasta provocar tus gritos
Y que olvides tu apellido

Despacito

Baby step by baby step, smooth, nice and smooth
We are sticking ourselves together, little bit by little bit
Until bringing on your screams
And that you forget your last name

Nice and slow