Well, I am glad she asked. I am having a lot of fun in my Salsa classes and learning how to dance Salsa at the same time.

On the first day of classes, the Salsa instructor asked the class “does anyone know where Salsa originated from?

” The Colombianos in the class responded with “Puerto Rico” and “Cuba.” But only this “Neoyorquino” (New Yorker) knew the correct answer: Nueva York (New York)

The Colombianos in the class thought I was “loco” when I said that “Salsa se originó en Nueva York” Our Salsa instructor had to confirm that Salsa music did in fact originate in New York City before anyone believed me. That is, Salsa was founded by Puerto Ricans in New York (or “Newyoricans” or “Nuyoricans” as we say in New York City) — possibly with the help of some Cubans.

By the way, listening to Salsa music is an excellent way to learn more Spanish and pick up lots of new Spanish. There are basically two types of Salsa music: “romántica” y “clásica”

You can learns lots of Spanish by listening to either one. I have a Colombian friend who told me that he has learned lots of new English words from listening to Country Western music.

Of course, you can also pick up lots of new Spanish vocabulary by listening to Merengue music (Dominican dance music). But I have found that the “letras” (lyrics) to Merengue music often don’t make sense and are often just “letras” for dancing and entertainment. On the other hand, Salsa music has “letras románticas” and “letras de amor” (lyrica about love).

If you are interested in learning Spanish slang, then you may want to listen to Reggaetón music — which I would describe as Spanish reggae music mixed with Hip Hop music. Reggaetón actually originated in Panama from Panamanians with Jamaican ancestry, but it was popularized and by Puerto Rican Reggaetón artists.

If you are learning Spanish with your kids you’ll want to avoid listening to Reggaetón. Just like
someone who is learning English with his or her children will want to avoid listening to “gansta” rap.

But if you are not easily offended by “adult” lyrics, you can learn lots of Spanish slang from listening to the “letras” (lyrics) of Reggaetón music.

I have learned a lot of Spanish slang from
listening to Reggaetón music.

Here are a few of the words that you may pick up from listening to Reggaetón music.

1. Sandunguear – to dance close or as one would say in Spanish, to dance “cerca” or to dance “pegado” or “pegadito”

Sandungueo – provocative or very sensual style of dancing close. In the Jamaica, West Indies, this style of dancing is called “wining.”

2. pegado/pegadito – cerca (close); literally “glued”

3. tener antojo – to have a craving, often used in a sensual manner, for example, “tengo un antojo” – I have a (sensual) craving.

“Tener antojo” is similar to the phrase “tenger ganas” which you will often hear Spanish speakers use.
“Tener ganas” means “to feel like doing something” or “to have desires.” Por ejemplo (for example),

Tengo ganas de comer un churrasco.
I feel like eating a steak.

Tiene ganas.
He/she has (sensual) desires.

4. perrear – literally, to be like a “dog”; to go out to pick up women — “especialmente mujeres fáciles” (especially, easy women)

In Medellín, Colombia, there’s a slang word which means the same as “perrear.” And that word is “putear.”