La Negra Tiene Tumbao Celia Cruz Translation Meaning and Lyrics

Song Meaning

'La Negra Tiene Tumbao' means 'The Black Girl Has Grace' in English. It is a name of a song by 'Celia Cruz' human translated here by a native speaker.

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Lyrics and Translations

'La Negra Tiene Tumbao' human translated and annotated. Look for notes about interesting vocabulary, language constructions, idioms, changes to transcribed words, grammar rules and general info that our members have discovered

Song is in Spanish which is has full support in the Cloudlingo system. Use the controls below to turn on and off different views of the lyrics and their translations.

Display: Lyrics Word by Word Translations Aligned Translations Free Translations

Test: Typing Test; click in the text boxes on each line and start typing the words! Speech Test; click the links and then say the words!

Lingo Script Icons

Line 1
Original Lyrics: Esa negrita que va caminando

Typing Test:        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: That black girl who is walking

Free Translation: That black girl who is walking

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 2
Original Lyrics: Esa negrita tiene eso tumba'o

Typing Test:         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: That black girl has grace

Free Translation: That black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 3
Original Lyrics: Y cuando la gente la va mirando

Typing Test:            

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And when people are looking at her

Free Translation: And when people are looking at her

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 4
Original Lyrics: Ella baila de la'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She dances from the side

Free Translation: She dances from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 5
Original Lyrics: También apreta'o, apreta'o, apreta'o

Typing Test:   ',   ',   '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Also tight, tight, tight

Free Translation: Also tight, tight, tight

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 6
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o (azuca', azuca')

Typing Test:       '   (',   ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace (sugar, sugar)

Free Translation: The black girl has grace (sugar, sugar)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 7
Original Lyrics: Y no camina de la'o

Typing Test:         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And she does not walk from the side

Free Translation: And she doesn’t walk from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 8
Original Lyrics: Si quieres llegar derecho

Typing Test:      

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: If you want to get straight

Free Translation: If you want to arrive straight

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 9
Original Lyrics: Mejor camina de frente

Typing Test:      

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Better walk straight ahead

Free Translation: You better walk straight ahead

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 10
Original Lyrics: Para que no hayan tropiezos

Typing Test:        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: So that there are no stumbles

Free Translation: So that there are no stumbles

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 11
Original Lyrics: Y venga aquí todo vences

Typing Test:        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And come here all wins

Free Translation: And come here you win all

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 12
Original Lyrics: Si quieres llegar primero

Typing Test:      

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: If you want to get there first

Free Translation: If you want to arrive first

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 13
Original Lyrics: Mejor se corre despacio

Typing Test:      

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Better run slowly

Free Translation: It is better to run slowly

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 14
Original Lyrics: Disfruta bien de la vida, cariño

Typing Test:         ,  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Enjoy well the life, darling

Free Translation: And enjoy life, honey

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 15
Original Lyrics: Aunque tomando medidas, azuca'

Typing Test:     ,   '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Although taking measures, sugar

Free Translation: Although taking measures, sugar

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 16
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o (tiene tumba'o, tiene tumba'o)

Typing Test:       '   (   ',     ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace (has grace, has grace)

Free Translation: The black girl has grace (has grace, has grace)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 17
Original Lyrics: Y no camina de la'o (y no camina de la'o, y no camina de la'o)

Typing Test:         '   (         ',           ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And she doesn't walk from the side (And she doesn't walk from the side, And she doesn't walk from the side)

Free Translation: And she doesn't walk from the side (And she doesn't walk from the side, And she doesn't walk from the side)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 18
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o (hay tumba'o)

Typing Test:       '   (   ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace (there is grace)

Free Translation: The black girl has grace (there is grace)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 19
Original Lyrics: Nunca camina de la'o (nunca camina de la'o de la'o)

Typing Test:       '   (       '     ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She never walks from the side (she never walks from the side, from the side)

Free Translation: She never walks from the side (she never walks from the side, from the side)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 20
Original Lyrics: Me tiene tumba'o, me tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:     ',       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She got me tumbling She got me tumbling

Free Translation: She got me tumbling She got me tumbling

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 21
Original Lyrics: Anda derechito, no camina de la'o

Typing Test:   ,         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She walks straight she doesn't walk from the side

Free Translation: She walks straight she doesn't walk from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 22
Original Lyrics: Me tiene tumba'o, me tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:     ',       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She got me tumbling She got me tumbling

Free Translation: She got me tumbling She got me tumbling

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 23
Original Lyrics: Cuándo la gente se muere (ay¡ dios mío)

Typing Test:           (¡     )

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: When people die (oh my God!)

Free Translation: When people die (oh my God!)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 24
Original Lyrics: Se dice que eran tan buena (tan buena)

Typing Test:             (   )

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: It is said that they were so good (so good)

Free Translation: It is said that they were so good (so good)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 25
Original Lyrics: Tan buena cuando vivía

Typing Test:      

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: So good when they lived

Free Translation: So good when they lived

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 26
Original Lyrics: Como la noche y el día (tu crees?)

Typing Test:             (   ?)

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Like night and day (you think so?)

Free Translation: Like night and day (you think so?)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 27
Original Lyrics: Que a me vengan a decir la verdad

Typing Test:                

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: That they come to me to tell the truth

Free Translation: If they come to me they better tell me the truth

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 28
Original Lyrics: No aguanto ya más mentiras (siempre lo mismo)

Typing Test:           (     )

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: I can't take no more lies (always the same)

Free Translation: I can't take no more lies (always the same)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 29
Original Lyrics: Disfruto bien de la vida

Typing Test:        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: I enjoy life well

Free Translation: I really enjoy life

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 30
Original Lyrics: Aunque tomando medidas (azuca')

Typing Test:       (')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Although taking measures (sugar)

Free Translation: Although taking measures (sugar)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 31
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o (tiene tumba'o, tiene tumba'o)

Typing Test:       '   (   ',     ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace (has grace, has grace)

Free Translation: The black girl has grace (has grace, has grace)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 32
Original Lyrics: Y no camina de la'o (y no camina de la'o, y no camina de la'o)

Typing Test:         '   (         ',           ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And she doesn't walk from the side (And she doesn't walk from the side, And she doesn't walk from the side)

Free Translation: And she doesn't walk from the side (And she doesn't walk from the side, And she doesn't walk from the side)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 33
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o (hay tumba'o)

Typing Test:       '   (   ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace (there is grace)

Free Translation: The black girl has grace (there is grace)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 34
Original Lyrics: Nunca camina de la'o (nunca camina de la'o de la'o)

Typing Test:       '   (       '     ')

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She never walks from the side (she never walks from the side, from the side)

Free Translation: She never walks from the side (she never walks from the side, from the side)

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 35
Original Lyrics: Anda derechito, anda derechito

Typing Test:   ,    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She walks straight She walks straight

Free Translation: She walks straight, straight

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 36
Original Lyrics: No camina de la'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She does not walk from the side

Free Translation: She doesn't walk from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 37
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace

Free Translation: The black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 38
Original Lyrics: Me tiene tumba'o, anda derechito, no camina de la'o

Typing Test:     ',     ,         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She got me tumbling, she walks straight, she doesn't walk from the side

Free Translation: She got me tumbling, she walks straight, she doesn't walk from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 39
Original Lyrics: Diosa de la noche, dulce como el mela'o

Typing Test:       ,         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Goddess of the night, sweet as the syrup

Free Translation: Goddess of the night, sweet as syrup

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 40
Original Lyrics: Otra como esa yo nunca encontra'o

Typing Test:           '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Another one like her I have never found

Free Translation: I have never found another one like her

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 41
Original Lyrics: Ven aquí pa' poder compartir

Typing Test:     '    

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Come here so we can share

Free Translation: Come here so we can share

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 42
Original Lyrics: Porque eres la negra linda que me hace feliz

Typing Test:                  

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Because you're the cute black girl that makes me happy

Free Translation: Because you're the cute black girl that makes me happy

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 43
Original Lyrics: Otra no quiero, eres la que me da inspiración

Typing Test:     ,              

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: I don't want another it's you who gives me inspiration

Free Translation: I don't want another it's you who gives me inspiration

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 44
Original Lyrics: Sin ti me muero, me haces falta

Typing Test:       ,      

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Without you I die, I need you

Free Translation: Without you I die, I need you

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 45
Original Lyrics: Se me rompe el corazón

Typing Test:        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: It breaks my heart

Free Translation: It breaks my heart

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 46
Original Lyrics: Otra no quiero, si no estas siento desesperación

Typing Test:     ,          

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: I don't want another, if you're not here I feel despair

Free Translation: I don't want another, if you're not here I feel despair

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 47
Original Lyrics: Sin ti me muero, simplemente eres mi vocacion

Typing Test:       ,        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Without you I die, you're just my vocation

Free Translation: Without you I die, you're just my vocation

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 48
Original Lyrics: Tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:   '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She has grace

Free Translation: She has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 49
Original Lyrics: Anda derechito, no camina de la'o

Typing Test:   ,         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She walks straight she doesn't walk from the side

Free Translation: She walks straight she doesn't walk from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 50
Original Lyrics: Diosa de la noche, dulce como el mela'o

Typing Test:       ,         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Goddess of the night, sweet as the syrup

Free Translation: Goddess of the night, sweet as syrup

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 51
Original Lyrics: Otra como esa yo nunca econtra'o

Typing Test:           '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Another one like her I have never found

Free Translation: I have never found another one like her

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 52
Original Lyrics: Esta negrita tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: This black girl has grace

Free Translation: This black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 53
Original Lyrics: Todos la siguen por su camina'o

Typing Test:           '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Everyone follows her on her way

Free Translation: Everyone follows her on her way

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 54
Original Lyrics: Esta negrita tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: This black girl has grace

Free Translation: This black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 55
Original Lyrics: Todos la siguen por su camina'o

Typing Test:           '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Everyone follows her on her way

Free Translation: Everyone follows her on her way

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 56
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace

Free Translation: The black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 57
Original Lyrics: Y no camina de la'o

Typing Test:         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And she does not walk from the side

Free Translation: And she doesn’t walk from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 58
Original Lyrics: Esa negrita que va caminando

Typing Test:        

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: That black girl who is walking

Free Translation: That black girl who is walking

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 59
Original Lyrics: Esa negrita tiene eso tumba'o

Typing Test:         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: That black girl has grace

Free Translation: That black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 60
Original Lyrics: Y cuando la gente la va mirando

Typing Test:            

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And when people are looking at her

Free Translation: And when people are looking at her

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 61
Original Lyrics: Ella baila de la'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She dances from the side

Free Translation: She dances from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 62
Original Lyrics: También apreta'o, apreta'o, apreta'o, azuca'

Typing Test:   ',   ',   ',   '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Also tight, tight, tight, sugar

Free Translation: Also tight, tight, tight, sugar

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 63
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace

Free Translation: The black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 64
Original Lyrics: Tiene tumba'o, tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:   ',     '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She has grace, has grace

Free Translation: She has grace, has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 65
Original Lyrics: Y no camina de la'o

Typing Test:         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And she does not walk from the side

Free Translation: And she doesn’t walk from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 66
Original Lyrics: Tiene tumba'o, tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:   ',     '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She has grace, has grace

Free Translation: She has grace, has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 67
Original Lyrics: Ay¡ tumba'o, ay¡ tumba'o

Typing Test: ¡   ',   ¡   '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: Ay! Grace, ay! Grace

Free Translation: Ay! Grace, ay! Grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 68
Original Lyrics: Nunca camina de la'o, de la'o

Typing Test:       ',     '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She never walks from the side, from the side

Free Translation: She never walks from the side, from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 69
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace

Free Translation: The black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 70
Original Lyrics: Tiene tumba'o, tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:   ',     '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She has grace, has grace

Free Translation: She has grace, has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 71
Original Lyrics: Y no camina de la'o

Typing Test:         '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: And she does not walk from the side

Free Translation: And she doesn’t walk from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 72
Original Lyrics: Nunca camina de la'o, de la'o

Typing Test:       ',     '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She never walks from the side, from the side

Free Translation: She never walks from the side, from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 73
Original Lyrics: La negra tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: The black girl has grace

Free Translation: The black girl has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 74
Original Lyrics: Tiene tumba'o, tiene tumba'o

Typing Test:   ',     '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She has grace, has grace

Free Translation: She has grace, has grace

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 75
Original Lyrics: Nunca camina de la'o

Typing Test:       '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She never walks from the side

Free Translation: She never walks from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 76
Original Lyrics: Nunca camina de la'o, de la'o

Typing Test:       ',     '

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: She never walks from the side, from the side

Free Translation: She never walks from the side, from the side

Lingo Script Icons:

Review

“La Negra tiene tumbao” is a song by the famous Cuban singer Celiz Cruz. It was released in 2001, and the song had a great impact on the music industry, not only Latin-American but all around the world. “La negra tiene tumbao” is one of the greatest songs from Celia Cruz before she passed away in 2003. The song received multiples nominations to the Premios Grammy Latinos as the best song and best music video. Right now, twenty years later, the song is still remembered as one of the greatest Spanish songs.

The video clip was recorded in Cuba and Mexico and shows us the story of a black girl, with an incredible body and aesthetics, the girl is shown as having her normal day, going to laundry and then walking by the streets while everyone is amazed and astonished by her beauty, her different modeling walking. At a certain point in the video, she takes her clothes out and walks around naked, drawing even more people’s attention, police officer tries to cover her up using a coat, however, she is still smiling and free while walking. Some speculate that the girl is Cuba and the police officer is the government, they tried to cover her beauty but it is impossible as everyone admires her.

Now, if we had to rate “La Negra tiene tumbao” difficulty out of ten, we will give it 8, because the song contains many colloquial slangs, and there are sentences that may look easy to understand and in fact, they are a little difficult to comprehend. If you are a beginner Spanish learner this song may give trouble, it has a fast pace, it has many voices singing and there are expressions like “tumba'o” or “la'o” that have different interpretations depending on the context given but worry not, all of the hard expressions are explained trough the song for better understanding, this song is a challenge but is a nice tune with a good rhythm that you will repeat over and over practicing until you understand and you can sing it and read it in Spanish. 

Submitted by user: ANITA

Average Ratings

Most people find the song lyrics very hard to understand lyrics, lyrics sung very fast and it has very hard to remember verbs and nouns

Most words used are in very common daily usage.RAE

La Negra Tiene Tumbao has 111 BPM (beats per minute)

References

RAE Based on a median word frequency of 65 using the frequency database from the Royal Spanish Academy (La Real Academia Española)

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