The Spanish word for music is the similar sounding música, with an accent above the letter u. Both the English and Spanish words can be traced back to the Greek mousikē (tekhnē) which means (art) of the Muses.
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
Similar to the English word, música is used not only to refer to the combination of melodic vocals and sounds, but also to denote the art of composing or performing music. (Note that there is a separate term for sheet music, which is partitura).
The following verbs are often seen in the company of the word música:
- escuchar música = to listen to music
- estudiar música = to study music
- componer música = to compose music
- escribir música = to write music
- hacer música = to make music
- interpretar música = to perform music
- tocar / poner música = to play music
Me gusta escuchar música mientras limpio la casa.
I like listening to music while cleaning the house.
Some of the most popular music genres (géneros musicales) include:
música rock
rock music
música reggae
reggae music
música clásica
classical music
música pop
pop music
música country
country music
música de baile
dance music
música lírica
opera music
música en vivo/directo
live music
música instrumental
instrumental music
música ambiental
background music
música jazz
jazz music
música rap
rap music
Did you know that…?
Música is also the word for a female musician, with the male equivalent being músico. By extension, música can also denote a music band or group. What’s more, in informal Spanish, the plural músicas refers to drivel or nonsense.
Música, in addition to being a noun, is also a feminine adjective in Spanish. The masculine equivalent is, of course, músico. They can be used to describe something or someone that is musical or related to music.
Be aware that in Mexico, the adjective also has a couple of negative figurative meanings: mean/unfriendly and hopeless.
You will also hear de música, literally of music, to describe things that are related to music. For example:
- biblioteca de música = music library
- colección de música = music collection
- estudio de música = music studio
- concierto de música = music concert
- concurso de música = music competition
- festival de música = music festival
¡Quiero ir al festival de música este año!
I want to go to the music festival this year!
Idiomatic expressions featuring ‘música’
Ir / irse con la música a otra parte
Literal translation: to go / to leave with the music to another place
English meaning: to take one’s business elsewhere; to get lost / go away
Me suena a música de caballitos
Literal translation: it sounds like carousel music
English meaning: it sounds all too familiar
Sonar a/ser música celestial
Literal translation: to sound like/be heavenly music
English meaning: to be music to one’s ears
Música celestial in Spanish literally translates to heavenly music but it can also be used ironically to mean “hot air” or empty talk intended to impress.
