Learn Spanish con Salsa | Spanish lessons with Latin music and conversational Spanish

What happens when a trip that was supposed to be a relaxing getaway goes completely off the rails ? In this episode, find out how a travel plan gone wrong led to an unexpected solo adventure in the beautiful, historic city of Cartagena, Colombia . This story starts with a desperate, last-minute decision to scrap the original itinerary and fly to a new country, inspired only by a classic salsa song...

Ever get confused between traer and llevar ? You’re not alone! In this episode, we’re reviewing how to use these two commonly confused Spanish verbs—and why knowing the difference can make your conversations sound way more natural. 🗣️✨ Whether you’re heading to a party, talking about what you’re wearing, or explaining how long you’ve been doing something, these two verbs come up a lot .  We'...

In this episode, we’re breaking down the lyrics to the bachata classic "Llévame Contigo" by the one and only Romeo Santos . If you've ever wanted to expand your vocabulary with phrases you'll actually use (instead of just singing along to your favorite songs in the shower 🚿🎶), this episode is for you! You'll learn the song lyrics with their meaning and English translatio...

Bad Bunny steps away from his typical reggaetón style with his new salsa song “Baile Inolvidable.”   In this episode, we'll breakdown the lyrics so you can turn one of your favorite songs into confident Spanish conversations.  You'll learn... 5 everyday Spanish phrases you can use from the song lyrics 🎶 An easy hack to understand hundreds of Spanish words with just one prefix 💯 How to...

In this episode, Kesia from the Spanish con Salsa team shares the history of bachata music in the Dominican Republic. We discuss the different styles of bachata dance and the genre’s most popular artists. En este episodio, Kesia del equipo de Spanish con Salsa comparte la historia de la música bachata en la República Dominicana. Discutimos los estilos de baile y los artistas más populares del géne...

Ever found yourself wishing you could’ve said something better—in Spanish? 👀 In this episode of the Learn Spanish con Salsa podcast, we’re throwing it back to Episode 223 where we covered Karol G’s hit song “Si Te Hubiera Conocido.” Now we’re digging into the grammar behind the feels 😭 — so you can master those emotional, regret-filled “what if” moments in Spanish. We’ll break down the condition...

In this episode, host Tamara Marie talks with Brittany, a passionate educator, all about her journey to Spanish fluency. Despite years of studying Spanish, Brittany felt stuck when it came to real conversations. 😞 Her motivation? To connect better with her students and with Spanish speakers in her Zumba classes. 👟 Tamara and Brittany discuss why traditional learning methods often fall short and...

Support the show ⭐Leave us a rating & review and we just might  give you a shout out on a future episode ;) 📩 Join our e-mail list and be the first to know when new episodes are released, plus get access to exclusive listener discounts + giveaways Connect with us... 📲 Follow us on Instagram 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Join our Facebook Community ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel 📜 Get transcripts when y...

In this episode, we’re talking to a Spanish learner that’s probably a lot like you.  Brittany feels a connection with Latino culture, music, and her local community.  After downloading numerous apps and stocking up on textbooks, Brittany was still unable to have a conversation in Spanish. 💬 Brittany shares the strategy that led her to a 549-day Spanish learning streak .  I hope this conversation...

In this episode, we’re breaking down the lyrics to "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido" by Colombian reggaetonera Karol G. This upbeat song with 🏝️ Caribbean flavor isn’t just catchy—it's full of Spanish grammar you probably didn't know about 🫢 and Spanish phrases you can start using today. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to express hypothetical situations in Spanish (aka &qu...

In this episode, we’re breaking down 10 must-know Spanish phrases you’ll actually hear in real conversations. Whether you're chatting with native speakers or just trying to understand Spanish TV without subtitles, these expressions will help you sound more natural and confident. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What to say when someone surprises you (that isn’t just “¡¿En serio?!” 🤯) How t...

In this episode, I’m reviewing the lyrics of Échame la Culpa by Luis Fonsi and Demi Lovato.  We’ll go line by line, translate the lyrics, and highlight key Spanish grammar and vocabulary you can use in daily conversations. Here’s what you’ll learn: The meaning of Échame la culpa  and how to use similar expressions 🫢 The difference between yo entendí and ya entendí (and how to use each one🤔) Span...

In this episode, we explore 7 ways to use the Spanish verb echar . Learn how to use it in everyday sentences, idiomatic expressions, and reflexive forms. Listen and learn... Common expressions with echar and their real-life applications. How echar is used in Latin Music Actionable steps to incorporate these phrases into your Spanish conversations Support the show ⭐Leave us a rating & review a...

In this episode, Tamara Marie responds to listener Jo-Anne’s challenges with forgetting words and feeling nervous speaking Spanish with adults.  Tamara shares actionable tips for consistent practice, reducing anxiety, and building fluency. In this episode, she covers: Daily Practice : Learn how to schedule consistent, structured conversations with adults in Spanish. Stress-Free Learning : Discover...

Do you ever get nervous when someone asks you a question in Spanish? Has your mind ever gone completely blank when you're trying to respond, even if you KNOW you know what you want to say? In this episode, you'll hear from Dani Dancing -- a Spanish learner like you who was able to shed her fear of speaking Spanish and get more comfortable having conversations . She shares how she was abl...

In this listener Q&A episode,  I’m answering a question from John, a member of the Learn Spanish con Salsa community. John shared his frustration about not knowing words he needs to use during conversations and struggling to keep the flow going. If you’ve ever faced a similar challenge, this episode is for you! I’ll review 7 practical steps to expand your vocabulary , build confidence, and kee...

In this festive episode, Tamara Marie shares conversational Spanish phrases for New Year gatherings, including greetings, toasts, and ways to express gratitude. She also explores the backstory of the classic holiday song Feliz Navidad , offering cultural insight and conversation tips to connect with others during the season. Listen now to... Learn 7 Spanish phrases to use during New Year’s celebra...

Can you imagine living on only $300 USD/month?  That's exactly what Jamarr Black did when he first moved to Cali, Colombia. In part 2 of our conversation, Jamarr shares how much money you need to live comfortably in Cali--including the cost of health care. I asked him about the best places to dance salsa in the area, and how Americans are treated by the locals and the police. Jamarr also shar...

Every thought about leaving behind your life in the US an moving abroad? In my interview with Jamarr Black, he shares why he decided to leave his job as a technical writer in Washington, DC to move to Cali, Colombia and how he got there on a $5 flight. He also talks about how he overcame the frustration of being the only non-native Spanish speaker in a conversation and not understanding what was h...

Do you dream about leaving everything behind and moving to a Spanish-speaking country? 💼 If you're thinking about taking the leap, then you'll want to hear Kai Cesaire's story. Kai runs a YouTube channel called Kai's Foreign Adventures where you can find out anything you need to know about moving to and living in Spain from the experience of an African-American. 🇪🇸 ✊🏽 Kai li...

In this episode, we’re reviewing the lyrics to Siembra by Panamanian singer and songwriter Rubén Blades and Puerto Rican singer and trombonist Willie Colón. You'll learn the song lyrics with the meaning and English translation, along with 9 Spanish words & phrases you can use in conversation. What You'll Learn in This Episode :  3 common Spanish phrases with the verb recoger that you...

In today’s episode, we’re talking about politics – but don’t worry, we’re keeping it interesting. 😉  With the U.S. election happening right now and a lot of political news coming out of Latin America, it’s the perfect time to brush up on some Spanish phrases for political conversations.  Whether you want to jump into a discussion, ask questions, or just understand what people are saying, we’ve go...

In this special Q&A episode of Learn Spanish con Salsa , Tamara Marie responds to a listener question from Jude, who’s facing the challenge of brain fog due to menopause while trying to learn Spanish. If you’ve ever struggled to remember new vocabulary or f eel overwhelmed by the learning process, this episode is packed with practical, research-backed strategies to help you stay consistent and...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Kelly Delgado and Maribel Zapata on how to translate American English expressions 🇺🇸 to Spanish You'll learn: Latin American expressions for the American English expressions get cold feet ❄️👣 and the ball is in your court 🏀 How to ask someone if they're serious or joking in Spanish (it's nothing like "are you pulling my leg?&...

In this episode, we shift gears from our recent focus on Colombian and Cuban Spanish to explore some common American English phrases 🇺🇸 Tamara takes the expert seat as Kelly and Maribel attempt to guess the meanings behind these expressions.  We’ll find out whether these American phrases have similar expressions in Spanish , so you can connect with native speakers more effectively. 🌎 You'll...