5 spanish hacks you can learn from ‘despacito

5 Spanish Hacks You Can Learn from ‘Despacito’

PRESENTED BY TAMARA MARIE

CERTIFIED LANGUAGE COACH


▪ Song by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

▪ Full lyrics with translation on the

Spanish Con Salsa website

5 SPANISH HACKS YOU CAN LEARN FROM ‘DESPACITO’


1) What is the diminutive?

2) How do you say “I have to [do

something]”?



3) What does ‘ya’ mean?

4) How do you use the gerund verb

form in Spanish?



5) What phrases can I use in

conversation?


1) What is the diminutive?▪ Word ending that indicates something is small,

little, or endearing

▪ English: “-ie/-y” or “-let”

▪ Spanish: “-ito/-cito” or “-ico”


Diminutive in English▪ English Examples:

▪ Dad > Daddy

▪ Dog > Doggy

▪ Book > Booklet

▪ Pup > Puppy

▪ Cute > Cutie (note: adjective changes to noun)


Diminutive in Spanish▪ Spanish Examples from the song ‘Despacito”:

▪ Despacio (Slow) > Despacito

▪ Paso (Step) > Pasito

▪ Suave (Smooth) > Suavecito

▪ Poco (Small) > Poquito

Note: spelling changes to maintain the sound (not ‘pocito’)


Diminutive in Spanish▪ More examples (term of endearment)▪ Juan > Juanito▪ Negra > Negrita

▪ Also used to make words less offensive▪ Gordo (fat) > Gordito▪ Flaco (skinny) > Flaquito


Your Turn…▪ Form the diminutive of these Spanish words:


▪ Hermano

▪ Juana

▪ Perro

▪ Pobre

> Hermanito

> Juanita> Perrito

> Pobrecito

2) How do you say “I have to [do something]”?

▪ Tener + que + verb (infinitive)

▪ Example from Despacito lyrics:

“Tengo que bailar contigo hoy.”

I have to dance with you today


I have to…▪ Examples

Tengo que ir al supermercado.

I have to go to the supermarket.

Tienes que comer algo.

You have to eat something.


Your Turn…▪ Translate these phrases to Spanish:


▪ I have to eat.

▪ She has to leave.

▪ I have to lay down.

▪ Do you have to go to the bathroom?

> Tengo que comer.

> Ella tiene que irse.> Tengo que acostarme.

> ¿Tienes que ir al baño?

3) What does “ya” mean?▪ Listen for the word ya

▪ How many times do you hear ya in the 1st verse?Link: https://spanishconsalsa.thinkific.com/courses/take/despacito/texts/1571069-audio-with-lyrics-and-

explanations


https://spanishconsalsa.thinkific.com/courses/take/despacito/texts/1571069-audio-with-lyrics-and-explanations

Answer: 4 times▪ Examples from “Despacito” lyrics:

▪ Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote.

▪ Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome.

▪ Ya, ya me estás gustando más de lo normal.


What does “ya” mean?▪ Depending on the context, it can mean “now” (used

for emphasis), “stop/enough,” or “already”


Yes, you know I’ve already been looking at you for a while.

▪ Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome.

I saw that your eyes were already calling me.


What does “ya” mean?▪ Ya, ya me estás gustando más de lo normal.

Stop, I’m already liking you more than usual.


What does “ya” mean?▪ “Ya no” means “no longer” or “anymore”

▪ Ya no quiero ir.

I don’t want to go anymore.

▪ Ya no estamos juntos.

We’re no longer together.


5) How do you use the gerund verb form?

▪ In English, the gerund is formed with the “-ing”

verb ending (ex. running, sitting, standing)

▪ In Spanish, the gerund is formed with the verb

endings “-ando” and “-iendo” (ex. buscando, viendo)

▪ The song “Despacito” uses compound forms of the

gerund that we don’t have in English


Simple Forms of Gerunds▪ Estar + verb (gerund)

▪ Examples:

▪ Estoy durmiendo. (I am sleeping.)

▪ No estás caminando. (You are not walking.)


Compound Forms of Gerunds▪ Estar + verb (gerund) + object (as one word)

▪ Examples from “Despacito” lyrics:


▪ Tu mirada ya estaba llamándome.Note: accent is used to retain correct pronunciation of gerund

(normal rule, 2nd to last syllable is stressed)


Compound Forms of Gerunds▪ Listen for gerunds in Daddy Yankee’s verse

▪ Write down any that you hearLink: https://spanishconsalsa.thinkific.com/courses/take/despacito/texts/1571073-audio-and-lyrics-with-translation


https://spanishconsalsa.thinkific.com/courses/take/despacito/texts/1571073-audio-and-lyrics-with-translation

Simple and Compound Forms of Gerunds▪ Examples from “Despacito” lyrics:

▪ Yo sé que estás pensándolo

▪ Llevo tiempo intentándolo

▪ Mami, esto es dando y dándolo

▪ Sabes que esa beba está buscando de mi bombom


Your Turn…▪ Translate the following phrases to Spanish:


▪ I am calling you

▪ He is looking for me

▪ I am learning it

> Estoy llamándote

> Él está buscándome> Estoy aprendiéndolo

4) What phrases can I use in conversation?

▪ Examples from “Despacito” lyrics:

Pasito a pasito, suave suavecitoStep by step, smooth-smoothly

Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquitoWe are getting closer, bit by bit


Phrases you can use every day▪ Poco a poco (little by little)

Example: Estoy aprendiendo español poco a poco.

▪Paso a paso (step by step)

Example: Hay que aprender paso a paso.


Review…1) How to use the diminutive

2) How to say “I have to [do something]”

3) The meaning of “ya”

4) How to use compound forms of gerunds

5) Phrases you can learn in conversation


5 spanish hacks you can learn from ‘despacito

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