About this song

Despacito

By Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee

Updated

What “Despacito” means

"Despacito" is a flirtatious reggaeton-pop song about attraction that builds slowly and deliberately. The mood is playful, sensual, and confident, with the singer describing a dance-like seduction where movement, voice, and touch all blend together. The repeated idea of doing things "despacito" (slowly) is both romantic and physical: it suggests taking time to enjoy the moment, savor desire, and let chemistry develop naturally. For a learner, it is also a great example of everyday Spanish expressions, poetic metaphor, and the musical use of repetition to create emphasis and memorability.

About Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee

Luis Fonsi is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is best known for Latin pop and romantic songs, and his career became much bigger worldwide after “Despacito” made him an international crossover star. He has also won major Latin music awards and received multiple GRAMMY nominations.

“Despacito” was released in January 2017 as a song by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee, and the official music video appeared on YouTube on January 12, 2017. The song is a flirtatious reggaeton-pop track about taking romance slowly, and it became a huge global hit that helped bring Spanish-language music to mainstream listeners around the world. It also broke YouTube records and became one of the most famous songs of the 2010s.

Line by line

Lines worth knowing

  • “"ya llevo un rato mirándote"”

    This means "I've been looking at you for a while." It is a natural, conversational phrase that shows the singer's interest has been building over time.

  • “"Tú eres el imán"”

    Literally, "You are the magnet." This is a metaphor for irresistible attraction: the other person pulls the singer in just like a magnet pulls metal.

  • “"Despacito"”

    This word means "slowly" or "little by little." It is the key theme of the song and a very useful adverb for learners; here it also carries a sensual, teasing tone.

  • “"pasito a pasito"”

    This translates as "step by step" or "little by little." The repetition makes it catchy and emphasizes gradual closeness, which is central to the song's romantic rhythm.

  • “"tus lugares favoritos"”

    This means "your favorite places." In context, it refers to intimate knowledge of the other person's body and preferences, using poetic language that is common in love songs.

  • “"hasta que olvides tu apellido"”

    Literally, "until you forget your last name." This is a dramatic, humorous exaggeration meaning the attraction is so strong that it overwhelms all sense of identity.

Play the song above for the full karaoke-synced lyrics with line-by-line translation in English.

Keep listening

More Spanish songs

Browse all Spanish songs →