Have you heard Forestella's 'Despacito'? Here is the Korean translation so you can feel the passion in Korean.

 

The Magic of Forestella: Falling in Love with 'Despacito'

Music truly has no language barrier. I first encountered Forestella through the Korean survival show Phantom Singer, and my world changed. Their performance of 'Despacito' (originally by Luis Fonsi) was a revelation.

"Even though I didn't understand a single word of the lyrics at first, listening to them made me feel incredibly joyful, happy, and inspired. I spent countless nights watching their stage and reading reaction videos from fans all over the world. It is an honor to finally share this passion through a Korean language lens."

Korean Translation & Romanization

Spanish (Original)	Korean Translation (Meaning)	Korean Pronunciation (Romanized)
Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote	그래, 이미 꽤 오랫동안 널 지켜보고 있었어	geu-rae, i-mi kkwae o-raet-dong-an neol ji-kyeo-bo-go is-seo-sseo
Tengo que bailar contigo hoy	오늘 너와 춤을 춰야겠어	o-neul neo-wa chu-meul chwo-ya-ge-sseo
Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome	네 눈빛이 이미 나를 부르고 있어	ne nun-bi-chi i-mi na-reul bu-reu-go is-seo
Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan	너에게 가기 위해 계획을 짜고 있어	neo-e-ge ga-gi wi-hae gye-hoe-geul jja-go is-seo
Solo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso	생각만으로도 심장은 빠르게 뛰어	saeng-gak-man-eu-ro sim-jang-eun bba-reu-ge ddwi-eo
Despacito	천천히	cheon-cheon-hi
Deja que te diga cosas al oído	네 귓가에 속삭이게 해줘	ne gwit-ga-e sok-sa-gi-ge hae-jwo
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo	네가 나와 없을 때도 기억할 수 있도록	ne-ga na-wa eop-seul ttae-do gi-eok-hal su it-do-rok
Quiero ver bailar tu pelo	네 머리카락이 춤추는 걸 보고 싶어	ne meo-ri-ka-rak-i chum-chu-neun geol bo-go sip-eo
Que le enseñes a mi boca	내 입술에게 가르쳐줘	nae ip-sul-e-ge ga-reu-chyeo-jwo
Tus lugares favoritos	네가 가장 좋아하는 곳들을	ne-ga ga-jang jo-a-ha-neun got-deu-reul

Let's look at two specific lines that capture the heart-pounding excitement of the song. Here is how we translate that heat into Korean:

Language	Lyrics
Spanish	Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan
Korean	너에게 가기 위해 계획을 짜고 있어
Romanization	neo-e-ge ga-gi wi-hae gye-hoe-geul jja-go is-seo
Spanish	Solo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso
Korean	그것만으로 심장은 빠르게 뛰어
Romanization	geu-geot-man-eu-ro sim-jang-eun bba-reu-ge ddwi-eo

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🎓 Act & Learn: Mastering Double Consonants

One of the reasons Forestella’s Korean fans love their singing is their impeccable diction. In the lyrics above, we encounter three "Double Consonants" (쌍자음) that many learners find challenging. Let's practice!

1. ㅉ (jj) as in 짜고 (jja-go)

Meaning: Making/Planning. Pronounce this with a tight throat, like a sharper "J" sound. Imagine you are putting extra pressure on the start of the word.

2. ㅃ (bb) as in 빠르게 (bba-reu-ge)

Meaning: Fast. Close your lips tightly and "pop" them open to make a strong 'B' sound. It is much stronger than a standard 'B'.

3. ㄸ (dd) as in 뛰어 (ddwi-eo)

Meaning: Beating/Jumping. Place your tongue behind your teeth and release it with force. This is the sound of your heart racing for someone you love!

Plain Consonant	Sound	Double Consonant	Sound (Tensed)	Example from 'Despacito'
ㅂ (b/p)	soft 'b'	ㅃ (bb)	strong, popping 'B'	빠르게 (bba-reu-ge) - Fast
ㅈ (j)	soft 'j'	ㅉ (jj)	sharp, tensed 'J'	계획을 짜고 (jja-go) - Making a plan
ㄷ (d/t)	soft 'd'	ㄸ (dd)	strong, hard 'D'	심장이 뛰어 (ddwi-eo) - Heart beats

📺 Let's Practice with a Video!

이제 이론을 배웠으니 실제로 연습해 볼 시간입니다! Watch the video below and follow along to master these powerful sounds. Try to match the tension you heard in Forestella's voices!

Wrap Up

Next time you listen to Forestella’s 'Despacito', try to sing along with these specific words. Can you feel the tension in 'jja-go' and the speed of 'bba-reu-ge'? Knowing the meaning behind the sounds makes the music even more beautiful.

What is your favorite Forestella song? Let me know in the comments below!

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