12 Gloria Estefan Songs That Can Teach You Spanish

Have you ever listened to Gloria Estefan? She’s one of the most famous Spanish singers of all time, and listening to her music is an excellent way to practice your Spanish skills! 

Listening to music in Spanish and following along with the lyrics enables you to absorb new vocabulary and improve your Spanish grammar. What’s more, listening to music is proven to help with memorization and word recognition. 

Gloria’s enunciation is clear, and her rhythm is infectious. You’ve probably heard Gloria Estefan songs in English. Today, we’ll explore 12 of her Spanish songs that can teach you Spanish!

Who is Gloria Estefan?

Gloria Estefan was born in 1957 in Havana, Cuba. Soon thereafter, her family fled from Cuba. In the 70s she met keyboardist Emilio Estefan, who would later become her husband and manager. They formed the Miami Sound Machine and scored several top 10 hits In the 1980s and 1990s.

Gloria and Emilio Estefan produced a Broadway musical called On Your Feet! featuring the Miami Sound Machine and all their popular songs. 

She reached worldwide success with the song “Conga.” Her wide range of music includes songs that discuss deep topics, as well as fun and upbeat songs. 

As a Latin American artist, Gloria Estefan broke through music industry barriers. She opened doors for hit Latin American singers in the United States like Ricky Martin, Selena, and Shakira. 

12 Gloria Estefan Songs for Learning Spanish

While this post is aimed at teenage and adult students, if you’re looking for themes, songs, and lesson ideas for preschool and elementary students, check out Learn Spanish with Music: Themes, Songs and Lesson Ideas for Preschool and Elementary. And these fun Spanish songs from the 80s take you back in time as you learn Spanish through music. 

As you listen to these Gloria Estefan songs, follow along with the lyrics to learn new vocabulary words. Listen for the words from the brief vocabulary lists included with each song. 

1. With the Years I Have Left (Con los años que me quedan)

This lovely slow song by Gloria Estefan uses verbs in the present tense. It’s a romantic song about what she wants to do with the years she has left with her loved one. She explains what happened in the past and how she is no longer willing to make the same mistakes. 

2. Listen (Oye)

This upbeat song is easy to follow along to because the lyrics are repetitive. Repetition is the best way to retain new words. You will hear in several Gloria Estefan songs a bit of English in between the Spanish because that’s who she is! Listen to Oye and dance to the catchy chorus!

3. My Land (Mi tierra)

This song is an homage to Gloria’s homeland. Mi tierra is also the name of the first album Gloria Estefan released 100% in Spanish. It became a huge hit and broke sales records. This song is great for practicing possessives and verbs in Spanish.

4. Listen to My Song (Oye Mi Canto)

One of the many reasons Gloria Estefan is so popular is that she has remained true to her roots and, Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Song) is no exception. The rhythm of this song is similar to Conga, and it was a smash hit in 1989. 

5. Today (Hoy)

This is my favorite Gloria Estefan song of all time. It’s a song full of wonder, mystery, and depth. Written by Peruvian singer-songwriter Gian Marco Zignago, it’s an homage to beautiful Perú. The video was shot in multiple sites in Peru, including Machu Picchu. It’s a melodic and joyful song about missing a place, a person, and a moment in time. It was a #1 hit in several Latin American countries. The lyrics of this song are a bit more advanced, making it ideal for intermediate learners. 

6. Losing You Hurts (Como Me Duele Perderte)

Gloria Estefan is all about romance. She sings many songs about love and loss, including Como Me Duele Perderte (Losing You Hurts). It’s about losing a loved one and how everything and everyone reminds you of them. It’s a splendid song to learn vocabulary about emotions and feelings. 

7. Don’t Stop Loving Me (No Me Dejes De Querer)

This song has an amazing Cuban feel and makes you want to dance. It’s perfect for Spanish practice because it’s slow enough to clearly understand what she’s saying. It’s good for imperatives and commands in Spanish. It’s also a bit repetitive which is excellent for beginners. The video makes you feel like you’re in Havana, Cuba. Check it out, sing-along, and have fun!

8. My Good Love (Mi Buen Amor)

This is another slow song about different kinds of love. Slow songs are romantic, emotional, and perfect for Spanish practice. Try to write down different kinds of love she talks about in the song and make it a fun activity. In the end, it’s an homage to her beloved. She thanks him for the love he gives her. 

9. Free Cuba (Cuba Libre)

This political song is dedicated to Gloria’s homeland, Cuba. She shares her memories and how much she loves a place she’s far away from but still adores with all her heart. It’s upbeat and the vocabulary is a bit challenging. 

10. If I Lose You (Si voy a perderte)

This is a slow pop song in Spanish about fearing losing the one you love. Follow along as she sings about being afraid yet hopeful that he won’t ever love anyone as much as he loved her. 

11. Your Photograph (Tu fotografía)

This song is a bit different for Gloria Estefan. It’s still a love song but it’s all-around a photograph. She analyzes the photo and sees how much the photo has changed, as their love for each other has. It’s a great song to practice describing an object. 

12. Opening Doors (Abriendo puertas)

This is a joyful song full of Latin American beats. It translates to “Opening Doors,” and that’s exactly how the song makes you feel—hopeful. The song is about a new year and what you’d like to open and heal. It’s a beautiful song about a better tomorrow to practice positive vocabulary words. 

What’s Your Favorite Spanish Music?

When it comes to language learning, using music is helpful for reaching your Spanish-speaking goals. All these Gloria Estefan songs can help you out if you’re looking to make your Spanish studies fun! Don’t forget there’s nothing better than immersing yourself in the language to become fluent. 

Spanish continues to grow, and in the U.S. alone, more than 50 million people speak the language. The U.S. is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. Speak Spanish at home or whenever you travel to a Spanish-speaking country, and use your Spanish vocabulary. After working on your listening comprehension, it’s time to put it to good use with a real-time Spanish conversation with one of our certified teachers from Guatemala. Sign up for a free class and find out why so many people are learning Spanish!

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Mar Z. Luna

Freelance Writer at Learn Grow Travel

Mar Z. Luna is a published writer and communicator who loves to explore and educate. She majored in Communications and strives to help others improve their lives. She recently published a book, Inside, and has contributed to different publications such as Que Pasa Magazine. Communicating comes naturally to her and she hopes to simplify what seems complex by using reliable sources and her teaching experience. You can find her at www.learngrowtravel.com

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