Oye como va Celia Cruz Translation Meaning and Lyrics

Song Meaning

'Oye como va' means 'Hey, How is it going?' 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

'Oye como va' 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

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Line 1

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 2

Original Lyrics: Mi ritmo bueno pa' goza', mulata

Typing Test: ' ',

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Adjective	Noun	Adjective	Preposition	Noun
mío	ritmo	bueno	para	mulata
predicative or after the noun mine, my.	rhythm	good	to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	Feminine noun of mulato

my	rhythm	good	to	mulata
^5,7,8 Punctuation marks

Aligned Translation: My good rhythm , mulatto

Free Translation: my rhythm is good to enjoy, mulata

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Line 3

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 4

Original Lyrics: Mi ritmo bueno pa' goza', mulata

Typing Test: ' ',

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Adjective	Noun	Adjective	Preposition	Noun
mío	ritmo	bueno	para	mulata
predicative or after the noun mine, my.	rhythm	good	to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	Feminine noun of mulato

my	rhythm	good	to	mulata
^5,7,8 Punctuation marks

Aligned Translation: My good rhythm , mulatto

Free Translation: my rhythm is good to enjoy, mulata

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Line 5

Original Lyrics: Si tú no sabes bailar

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Conjunction	Pronoun	Adverb	Verb	Verb
si	tú	no	sabes	bailar
if	(Second person pronoun in singular tense) (informal communication in Spain and Mexico). you; thou (cognate).	not	to know (a fact)	to dance
			2nd Person Singular Indicative Present Tuteo of the verb saber	Infinitive
if	you	not	know	to dance

Aligned Translation: If you don' 't know how to dance

Free Translation: If you don't know how to dance

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Line 6

Original Lyrics: Si estás "peliao" con el son

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Conjunction	Verb	Preposition	Determiner	Noun
si	estás	con	el	son
if	to be (have a (transient) location in space). Compare ser, quedar.	with	Masculine singular definite article; the.	A pleasant sound, tone
	2nd Person Singular Indicative Present Tuteo of the verb estar
if	are	with	the	the sound
⁴ informal way to say PELEADO which means TO BE FIGHTING WITH SOMETHING

Aligned Translation: If you with the son

Free Translation: If you are "fighting" with the rhythm

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Line 7

Original Lyrics: Sígueme marcando el paso

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Verb	Pronoun	Verb	Determiner	Noun
sigue	yo	marcando	el	paso
to continue (on); to keep, to keep on (can be combined with the gerund to indicate that someone or something continues doing something)	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	to mark	Masculine singular definite article; the.	A step or pace walking.
2nd Person Singular Imperative Affirmative Tuteo of the verb seguir		Simple Gerund of the verb marcar
continue	me	marking	the	step

Aligned Translation: Follow me marking the step

Free Translation: Follow me marking the step

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Line 8

Original Lyrics: Y te aseguro que te lo va a sobrosón

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Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Conjunction	Pronoun	Pronoun
y	tú	aseguro	que	tú	él
and	(Second person pronoun in singular tense) (informal communication in Spain and Mexico). you; thou (cognate).	transitive to assure (to give (someone) confidence in the trustworthiness of)	that	(Second person pronoun in singular tense) (informal communication in Spain and Mexico). you; thou (cognate).	it, masculine non-personal third-person subject and disjunctive pronoun (used as a subject and after prepositions to refer to masculine nouns)
		1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb asegurar
and	you	assure	that	you	it

Aligned Translation: And I assure you that it will be sobroson

Free Translation: And I assure you that it will be fun

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Line 9

Original Lyrics: Voy pa la rumba, la rumba, la rumba

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Verb	Preposition	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun
voy	para	la	rumba	la	rumba	la	rumba
intransitive to go	for, to (expressing a recipient)	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party
1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
go	to	the	party	the	party	the	party

Aligned Translation: I'm going to the party to the party to the party

Free Translation: I'm going to the party, to the party, to the party

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Line 10

Original Lyrics: Porque me llama, me llama, me llama

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Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Pronoun	Verb	Pronoun	Verb
porque	yo	llama	yo	llama	yo	llama
because	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	to summon, to call	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	to summon, to call	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	to summon, to call
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb llamar		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb llamar		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb llamar
because	me	calls	me	calls	me	calls

Aligned Translation: 'Cause , it calls me it calls me it calls me

Free Translation: 'Cause it's calling me, he's calling me, he's calling me

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Line 11

Original Lyrics: Y necesito que suene el coro

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Conjunction	Verb	Preposition	Verb	Determiner	Noun
y	necesito	que	suene	el	coro
and	transitive to need	to	to sound, to ring	Masculine singular definite article; the.	choir
	1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb necesitar		3rd Person Singular Subjunctive Present of the verb sonar
and	need	to	sound	the	choir

Aligned Translation: And I need the chorus to sound

Free Translation: And I need the choir to sound

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Line 12

Original Lyrics: Para que se ponga a vacilar

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Preposition	Preposition	Pronoun	Verb	Preposition	Verb
para	que	se	ponga	a	vacilar
to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	to	Third person (also used for usted and ustedes) reflexive direct or indirect object, oneself, himself, herself, itself, yourself; each other; one another	reflexive to get	to	colloquial:Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Guatemala to enjoy
			3rd Person Singular Subjunctive Present of the verb poner		Infinitive
to	to	itself	gets	to	enjoy

Aligned Translation: To make him start to waver

Free Translation: To start to have fun

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Line 13

Original Lyrics: Y te lo digo

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Conjunction	Pronoun	Pronoun	Verb
y	tú	él	digo
and	(Second person pronoun in singular tense) (informal communication in Spain and Mexico). you; thou (cognate).	it, masculine non-personal third-person subject and disjunctive pronoun (used as a subject and after prepositions to refer to masculine nouns)	to say, to tell
			1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb decir
and	you	it	say

Aligned Translation: And I'm telling you

Free Translation: And I'm telling you

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Line 14

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 15

Original Lyrics: Mi ritmo bueno pa' goza', mulata

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Adjective	Noun	Adjective	Preposition	Noun
mío	ritmo	bueno	para	mulata
predicative or after the noun mine, my.	rhythm	good	to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	Feminine noun of mulato

my	rhythm	good	to	mulata
^5,7,8 Punctuation marks

Aligned Translation: My good rhythm , mulatto

Free Translation: my rhythm is good to enjoy, mulata

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Line 16

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 17

Original Lyrics: Mi ritmo bueno pa' goza', mulata

Typing Test: ' ',

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Adjective	Noun	Adjective	Preposition	Noun
mío	ritmo	bueno	para	mulata
predicative or after the noun mine, my.	rhythm	good	to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	Feminine noun of mulato

my	rhythm	good	to	mulata
^5,7,8 Punctuation marks

Aligned Translation: My good rhythm , mulatto

Free Translation: my rhythm is good to enjoy, mulata

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Line 18

Original Lyrics: Esto se pone caliente

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Pronoun	Pronoun	Verb	Adjective
éste	se	pone	caliente
this one	Third person (also used for usted and ustedes) reflexive direct or indirect object, oneself, himself, herself, itself, yourself; each other; one another	reflexive to get	hot, warm (emitting heat or warmth)
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb poner
this one	oneself	itself	hot

Aligned Translation: This is getting hot

Free Translation: This is getting hot

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Line 19

Original Lyrics: Esto se baila "apretao"

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Pronoun	Pronoun	Verb
éste	se	baila
this one	Third person (also used for usted and ustedes) reflexive direct or indirect object, oneself, himself, herself, itself, yourself; each other; one another	to dance
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb bailar
this one	oneself	dances

Aligned Translation: This is danced very close

Free Translation: This is danced "tight"

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Line 20

Original Lyrics: Cuatro pasito' "pal" frente

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Numeral	Noun	Contraction	Noun
cuatro	pasito	pal	frente
cardinal numbers four	Diminutive of paso	colloquial (contraction of {{m) + el: the}}	front

four	little step	to the	front

Aligned Translation: Four little steps to the front

Free Translation: Four little steps to the front

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Line 21

Original Lyrics: Y un "meneito" de "lao"

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Conjunction	Determiner	Preposition
y	un	de
and	a	from (with the origin, starting point or initial reference of or at)

and	a	from
⁴ SEXY DANCE
⁸ contraction of LADO

Aligned Translation: And a little dance from one side

Free Translation: And a "little wiggle" from one side

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Line 22

Original Lyrics: Porque la rumba, la rumba, la rumba

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun
porque	la	rumba	la	rumba	la	rumba
because	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party

because	the	party	the	party	the	party

Aligned Translation: Because the the rumba

Free Translation: Because the party the party the party

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Line 23

Original Lyrics: Tiene la clave, la clave, la clave

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Verb	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun
tiene	la	clave	la	clave	la	clave
transitive to have, possess (literally)	the	figurative key (to a problem or puzzle)	the	figurative key (to a problem or puzzle)	the	figurative key (to a problem or puzzle)
3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb tener
has	the	key	the	key	the	key

Aligned Translation: He's got the key the key, the key

Free Translation: has the key, the key, the key

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Line 24

Original Lyrics: Y hay

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Conjunction	Preposition	Verb	Pronoun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun
y	que	meter	ella	a	el	jarro
and	to	to cram, to stuff, to stick, to shove	it (used subjectively and after prepositions to refer to feminine nouns)	to	Masculine singular definite article; the.	jug; pitcher
		Infinitive
and	to	to stick	it	to	the	jug
² THERE IS
^6,7 fire

Aligned Translation: And you have to put fire in the jar

Free Translation: And you have to put the jar on fire

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Line 25

Original Lyrics: Para que suene así como va

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Preposition	Preposition	Verb	Adverb	Conjunction	Verb
para	que	suene	así	como	va
to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	to	to sound, to ring	like this; like that; as such; thus; so; thereby; this way, that way	as (introducing a basis of comparison or equality)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Subjunctive Present of the verb sonar			3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
to	to	sound	thus	as	goes

Aligned Translation: To make it sound the way it goes

Free Translation: To make it sound the way it goes

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Line 26

Original Lyrics: Te lo repito

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Pronoun	Pronoun	Verb
tú	él	repito
(Second person pronoun in singular tense) (informal communication in Spain and Mexico). you; thou (cognate).	it, masculine non-personal third-person subject and disjunctive pronoun (used as a subject and after prepositions to refer to masculine nouns)	to repeat {{q\|to do or say again (and again)}}
		1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb repetir
you	it	repeat

Aligned Translation: I repeat it to you

Free Translation: I repeat it to you

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Line 27

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 28

Original Lyrics: Mi ritmo bueno pa' goza', mulata

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Adjective	Noun	Adjective	Preposition	Noun
mío	ritmo	bueno	para	mulata
predicative or after the noun mine, my.	rhythm	good	to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	Feminine noun of mulato

my	rhythm	good	to	mulata
^5,7,8 Punctuation marks

Aligned Translation: My good rhythm , mulatto

Free Translation: my rhythm is good to enjoy, mulata

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Line 29

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 30

Original Lyrics: Mi ritmo bueno pa' goza', mulata

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Adjective	Noun	Adjective	Preposition	Noun
mío	ritmo	bueno	para	mulata
predicative or after the noun mine, my.	rhythm	good	to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	Feminine noun of mulato

my	rhythm	good	to	mulata
^5,7,8 Punctuation marks

Aligned Translation: My good rhythm , mulatto

Free Translation: my rhythm is good to enjoy, mulata

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Line 31

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 32

Original Lyrics: (Ay camina como Chencha o

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	Interjection	Verb	Conjunction		Conjunction	Adverb	Verb	Preposition
	ay	camina	como		o	no	va	a
	Expresses pain, sorrow, or surprise.	to walk	as (introducing a basis of comparison or equality)		or	no	intransitive to go	to
		2nd Person Singular Imperative Affirmative Tuteo of the verb caminar					3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
	Ah	walk	as	Chencha	or	no	goes	to
¹⁰ Contraction of the infinitive ECHAR which in English is TO THROW

Aligned Translation: (Ay walk like chencha or not vay tch pa tra)

Free Translation: hey, walk like Chencha or you will put us down

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Line 33

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 34

Original Lyrics: (Oye Como Va Oye Como va)

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb	Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va	oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go	(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir			3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes	hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: How It Goes Hey How it Goes)

Free Translation: (Hey How It Goes Hey How it Goes)

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Line 35

Original Lyrics: (Quimbara quimbara cumba quimbamra quimbara cumba quimbara

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^{2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11} Famous phrase of Celia Cruz

Aligned Translation: Quimbara quimbara cumba quimbamra quimbara cumba quimbamba

Free Translation: (Quimbara quimbara cumba quimbamra quimbara cumba quimbara quimbara cumba quimbamba)

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Line 36

Original Lyrics: Oye

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Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: hey

Free Translation: Hey how's it going

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Line 37

Original Lyrics: (Como va la rumba, Como viene y va)

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Conjunction	Verb	Determiner	Noun	Conjunction	Verb	Conjunction	Verb
como	va	la	rumba	como	viene	y	va
how (in which way)	intransitive to go	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party	how (in which way)	to come	and	intransitive to go
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir				3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb venir		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
how	goes	the	party	how	comes	and	goes

Aligned Translation: how the rumba goes, as it comes

Free Translation: (As the rumba goes, as it comes and goes)

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Line 38

Original Lyrics: Oye

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Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: hey

Free Translation: Hey how's it going

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Line 39

Original Lyrics: Y llega el negro Vicente

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Conjunction	Verb	Determiner	Noun	Proper noun
y	llega	el	negro	Vicente
and	intransitive to arrive, get (to)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	black (the color perceived in the absence of light)	a male given name the equivalent of Vincent in English
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb llegar
and	arrives	the	black	Vicent

Aligned Translation: And the black Vicente arrives

Free Translation: And Vicente "the black" arrives

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Line 40

Original Lyrics: Y el bodegero de al lado

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Conjunction	Determiner	Preposition	Preposition	Determiner	Noun
y	el	de	a	el	lado
and	Masculine singular definite article; the.	of; ’s; (used after the thing owned and before the owner)	by	Masculine singular definite article; the.	side

and	the	of	by	the	side
³ They refer to the worker of a grocery store

Aligned Translation: And the employee next door

Free Translation: And the employee next door

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Line 41

Original Lyrics: Que venga toda mi gente

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Conjunction	Verb	Adjective	Adjective	Noun	Adjective	Noun
que	venga	todo	mío	gente	mío	gente
that	to come	all, every	predicative or after the noun mine, my.	people	predicative or after the noun mine, my.	people
	3rd Person Singular Subjunctive Present of the verb venir
that	comes	all	my	people	my	people

Aligned Translation: Let all my people come (my people)

Free Translation: Let all my people come (my people)

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Line 42

Original Lyrics: Para que gocen "tumbao"

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Preposition	Preposition	Verb
para	que	gocen
to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	to	to enjoy oneself
		3rd Person Plural Subjunctive Present of the verb gozar
to	to	enjoy themselves
⁵ Laying back

Aligned Translation: for they to enjoy themselves laying back

Free Translation: for they to enjoy themselves laying back

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Line 43

Original Lyrics: Porque la rumba, la rumba, la rumba

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun
porque	la	rumba	la	rumba	la	rumba
because	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party	the	Caribbean:Venezuela Colombia party

because	the	party	the	party	the	party

Aligned Translation: Because the the rumba

Free Translation: Because the party the party the party

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Line 44

Original Lyrics: Tiene la clave, la clave, la clave

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Verb	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun	Determiner	Noun
tiene	la	clave	la	clave	la	clave
transitive to have, possess (literally)	the	figurative key (to a problem or puzzle)	the	figurative key (to a problem or puzzle)	the	figurative key (to a problem or puzzle)
3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb tener
has	the	key	the	key	the	key

Aligned Translation: He's got the key the key, the key

Free Translation: has the key, the key, the key

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Line 45

Original Lyrics: Y hay

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Conjunction	Preposition	Verb	Pronoun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun
y	que	meter	ella	a	el	jarro
and	to	to cram, to stuff, to stick, to shove	it (used subjectively and after prepositions to refer to feminine nouns)	to	Masculine singular definite article; the.	jug; pitcher
		Infinitive
and	to	to stick	it	to	the	jug
² THERE IS
^6,7 fire

Aligned Translation: And you have to put fire in the jar

Free Translation: And you have to put the jar on fire

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Line 46

Original Lyrics: Para que suene así como va

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Preposition	Preposition	Verb	Adverb	Conjunction	Verb
para	que	suene	así	como	va
to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	to	to sound, to ring	like this; like that; as such; thus; so; thereby; this way, that way	as (introducing a basis of comparison or equality)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Subjunctive Present of the verb sonar			3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
to	to	sound	thus	as	goes

Aligned Translation: To make it sound the way it goes

Free Translation: To make it sound the way it goes

Lingo Script Icons:

Line 47

Original Lyrics: Bien suavecito

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Aligned Translation: Very soft

Free Translation: very softly

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Line 48

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

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Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 49

Original Lyrics: Mi ritmo bueno pa' goza', mulata

Typing Test: ' ',

Voice Test:

Word By Word Lyrics:

Adjective	Noun	Adjective	Preposition	Noun
mío	ritmo	bueno	para	mulata
predicative or after the noun mine, my.	rhythm	good	to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	Feminine noun of mulato

my	rhythm	good	to	mulata
^5,7,8 Punctuation marks

Aligned Translation: My good rhythm , mulatto

Free Translation: my rhythm is good to enjoy, mulata

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Line 50

Original Lyrics: Oye como va

Typing Test:

Voice Test:

Word By Word Lyrics:

Interjection	Conjunction	Verb
oye	como	va
(exclamation) hey	how (in which way)	intransitive to go
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ir
hey	how	goes

Aligned Translation: Hey how' 's it going

Free Translation: Hey how is it going?

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Line 51

Original Lyrics: Mi ritmo

Typing Test:

Voice Test:

Aligned Translation: my pace

Free Translation: my rhythm

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Line 52

Original Lyrics: bueno pa' goza',

Typing Test: ' ',

Voice Test:

Word By Word Lyrics:

Adjective	Preposition	Verb
bueno	para	goza
good	to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)	to enjoy oneself
		3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb gozar
good	to	enjoy oneself

Aligned Translation: good to enjoy oneself

Free Translation: good to enjoy oneself

Lingo Script Icons:

Review

Celia Cruz sang this version of OYE COMO VA, but Tito Puente wrote and sang this song in 1962. The song became popular in 1970 when the American rock group Santana recorded it for their album Abraxas. The song is part of the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Grammy Hall of Fame since 2002. For its multinational origins and many versions, this song represents "the interconnectedness, hybridity and transnationality" of Latin Music

You can learn from this song's expressions, diminutives, and contractions. The part that calls the attention the most is Celia’s famous phrase: Quimbara quimbara cumba quimbamra quimbara cumba quimbara quimbara cumba quimbamba. Celia tried to imitate the sounds that the drum produced.

Submitted by user: ANDRESFREELANCER

Average Ratings

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

Most words used are in very common daily usage.^RAE

Oye como va has 130 BPM (beats per minute)

References

^RAE Based on a median word frequency of 161 using the frequency database from the Royal Spanish Academy (La Real Academia Española)

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Adverb	Adjective
bien	suavecito
very	Diminutive of suave

very	softly