Singing My Way to Spanish Fluency Through Music

Have you ever tried learning a new language, only to feel like your brain is tangled in a mess of words—even in your own native tongue? That’s exactly where I find myself after 178 days of learning Spanish (along with Portuguese and refreshing my French) on Duolingo. Some days, I feel like I’m making real progress; other days, my pronunciation trips me up, and my confidence wavers. My husband jokes that all this language learning has even muddled my English—which, considering my family history, might not be too far off the mark.

I’m a born-and-bred New York City girl, but my father, a first-generation Greek-American, spoke Greek before he spoke English. When I was an incoming freshman at Trinity School—where my father, uncle, brothers, I, and even a few nieces and nephews attended—I met Mr. Bruner-Smith, a very English English teacher. Upon learning who my father was, he said to me, "I tried to teach your father English." Dad, the first-born son of Greek immigrants, had a way with words—sometimes even making them up, a trait my sister and I seem to have inherited.

To reinforce my Spanish learning, I decided to create a playlist of Spanish music that I could sing along with—something I had already done for Portuguese and French. Singing along with these songs has been a fun and effective way for me to strengthen my pronunciation and vocabulary.

Listening to the rhythm and sounds of each language has also been a great way to immerse myself in part of the Spanish culture. Howver I needed some help as to where to look for Spanish music - I was somewhat lost at first - beyond Santana, Gloria Esteban, and Ricky Martin - I didn't know where to look for contemporary Spanish music that would specifically accomplish my goal of reenforcing my learning, so I turned to ChatGPT. With the suggestions that were generated I was able to curate a selection of songs that not only make learning enjoyable but have also introduced me to incredible artists I might never have discovered otherwise.

Here is my playlist - I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

1. "Limón y Sal" by Julieta Venegas

I love this song - I sing it often and I can't help but sing along to Limón y Sal (2006). It's a bit pop but also has some folk elements, showcasing Julieta's signature accordion melodies. The lyrics discuss the acceptance of a partner's flaws, using the metaphor of "lemon and salt" to represent the bittersweet aspects of love.

I was unaware of Julieta Venegas beforehand but I became an instant fan! It was hard not to add more of her songs to the playlist than I already have on it. By far, She is a new favorite of mine.

2. "Andar Conmigo" by Julieta Venegas

Ok, as I said, she has become an instant favorite of mine. From her 2003 album Sí, this track features a playful melody with accordion accompaniment. The accordion is perfect in this song too. I sometimes find myself singing or humming this tune throughout the day - the most pleasant of earworms.

3. "Lento" by Julieta Venegas

"Lento" is a soothing track that encourages taking things slow in a relationship. Its mellow tune and gentle vocals make it a relaxing listen.

I love this song - it has a great beat and melody, which is very easy to sing to - not too fast so I can keep up, plus I learn a few new words along the way.

4. "Hasta la Raíz" by Natalia Lafourcade

Being introduced to the music of Natalia Lafourcade has been a treat for me. Hasta la Raíz (2015) won multiple Latin Grammy Awards. She's an incredibly talented songwriter and musician - singer -

5. "Lo Que Construimos" by Natalia Lafourcade

I love this heartfelt ballad - it's so pretty, and I can't help but sway and sing along - or try my best to. Even though I may not know exactly what she is saying, you can feel it in her music.

6. "Vidas Paralelas" by Ximena Sariñana

This is a jazzy track in which Ximena Sariñana explores the concept of parallel lives and unfulfilled potential between two people. The words are a bit more complicated but I love the beat of this song.

7. "No Sé" by Ximena Sariñana

Ximena Sariñana delivers an indie-pop flair - her music is fun to listen to and sing along to. The chorus of her music repeats and are easy words that help to build my confidence in my learning.

8. "Disfruta" by Carla Morrison

Carla Morrison has a haunting quality to her voice that is so pretty. Disfruta has words that range from simple to more complicated - but not too challenging. As I get further into my learning, they become easier. Luckily, this song has a slow pace that gives me a chance to sing along.

9. "Tu Falta de Querer" by Mon Laferte

I can't help but belt this one - like I am a female Frank Sinatra or something - which, for some reason, I am reminded of when she sings this song. especially during the chorus: "Ven y cuéntame la verdad, Ten piedad..." A powerful ballad that narrates the anguish of unreciprocated love, showcasing Mon Laferte's vocal intensity.

10. "Sabré Olvidar" by Silvana Estrada

Translated as "I Will Know How to Forget," Sabré Olividar deals with moving on from a past love. Again, not understanding all the words is unnecessary to enjoy the music, and she conveys enough through her powerful voice and guitar playing - somehow you know exactly the emotions she is expressing.

11. Me Gustas Tu by Manu Chao

Me Gustas quickly became one of my favorites to sing over and over. I love this song - it is so much fun to sing and great for practicing my Spanish words. The repetition in this song builds your confidence as you sing along.

Learning Spanish through music has been an incredible experience—one that has made pronunciation, vocabulary, and cultural understanding a lot more fun than I ever expected. Singing along has helped reinforce what I’m learning, which is a nice alternative to constantly plug away at DouLingo or JumpSpeak all the time. Plus discovering new artists along the way has been an added bonus. The complete playlist and more is below.

Now, I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever used music to learn a language? Do you have a favorite Spanish song or artist that should be on my playlist? Drop a comment below and let’s keep the musical journey going together! 🎶😊