Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Bonita by Juanes from Spanish to English.
These lyrics have verified word for word translations. Click any lyric word to see the translation and hear the pronunciation!
Verse 1
I didn't want to fall in love
And I went to party with my friends
I didn't think that finding you was my destiny
I told you baby, come closer, please
'Corazón' means 'heart' but it is also a term of endearment which means 'honey', 'baby', etc.
You have that little skirt, everyone goes crazy
'Vos' is another way of saying 'tú'; some Spanish-speaking countries use this older form of the second person singular pronoun, such as Nicaragua, Argentina, and others. 'Perder la razón' is literally 'to lose reason' but means 'to go crazy'
If you're liking it a lot
I ask you for forgiveness
Or: I apoligise
And after a vallenato we both leave
Vallenato is a Colombian music genre
Chorus 1
Because you, because you have that pretty face
I'm crazy about your body, what am I going to do
Without realizing, I lost myself in your little mouth
Don't look for me, because I never want to come back
Only an idiot is going to leave you alone
With that desire to kiss you, beautiful
Bonita can be pretty / beautiful, or it can also mean the equivalent of 'baby'
vallenato — vallenato (traditional Colombian folk music style)
Vallenato is a genre of folk music from Colombia that blends accordion, caja drum and guacharaca for an unmistakable Caribbean-Colombian sound.
Juanes slips it into the lyric "después de un vallenato nos vamos los dos" to paint a scene of dancing together before sneaking away. Learning this word opens a cultural doorway: it’s not just a song reference but a snapshot of Colombian musical heritage.
You set out for a casual night out with zero intention of catching feelings, and then someone completely derails your plans. That is the exact story Colombian rocker Juanes and Sebastián Yatra tell here. The singer kicks things off admitting, "No quería enamorarme / Y me fui de fiesta con mis amigos" ("I didn't want to fall in love / And I went out partying with my friends"), only to bump into someone so charming that every single plan evaporates. He gets totally hooked on her face and her moves, confessing, "Sin darme cuenta, me perdí en tu boquita / Que no me busquen, que yo nunca quiero volver" ("Without realizing it, I got lost in your little mouth / Don't look for me, I never want to come back"). He is happily lost in the moment and promises to leave the party together as soon as the traditional folk music (vallenato) wraps up.
What makes this track so fun are the local Colombian touches Yatra drops into his verse. He promises a date back home: "Yo a ti te llevo a Medallo, tomamos guaro y cerveza" ("I'll take you to Medallo, we'll drink guaro and beer"). Medallo is everyday local slang for Medellín, while guaro is short for aguardiente, Colombia's anise-flavored national liquor. He even teases her with playful pet names like mamasota and mamacita (slang terms for a gorgeous, attractive woman) before asking for "una vueltita" ("a little spin" on the dance floor). It is a bright, upbeat tune about being utterly swept away by someone's rhythm, with zero regrets about letting your friends party without you.
Did you know?
In addition to reading lyric translations, you can now learn Spanish with music and lyrics from your favorite artists.
Yes, including Bonita by Juanes!
No more boring lessons. You can now learn with engaging and culturally relevant lyrics from the best artists.
