Inside: Authentic songs in Spanish with commands (or mandatos). 

Here I’ve collected authentic songs with examples of commands. When students hear language over and over, in context, they pick up the forms more easily. If you teach explicit grammar, it’s much easier to explain verbs when the students already have examples you can reference. 

This list is heavy on the affirmative commands, so I will keep looking for more negative examples. (If you’re looking for more lists of Songs in Spanish by theme and category, I have a TON you can browse through or save for later.)

SPANISH SONGS WITH COMMANDS

1.  MADRE TIERRA – CHAYANNE

A positive, environmental-themed song that has positive tú commands, mainly in the chorus. Preview the video below for the dancing, and use the second video instead if you need to. 

2. TE MUEVES TÚ, SE MUEVEN TODOS – HA*ASH, REIK, DAVID BISBAL

So many great examples of commands here- positive, negative, tú form, nosotros. Such a fun one, to!

3. DÍMELO – MARC ANTONY 

Dímelo by Marc Antony is nice because there aren’t many lyrics, and everything gets repeated. The song includes a negative command (no me dejes), a positive one (ven), and a positive with two pronouns (dímelo). 

4. DI QUE NO TE VAS – MORAT

This one isn’t as packed with mandatos as the other songs here. Mira and di get repeated over and over again, so it may work as a very introductory song with an example of a regular and irregular verb in the tú command form. 

5. DILE AL AMOR – AVENTURA 

This bachata classic has your commands in the 3rd-person form (speaking to Love, actually). And soooo many reps of dale and dile. 

6. ABRÁZAME

Abrázame has a lot of examples of commands with the pronoun attached at the end (abrázame, quédate, dame), with infinitives + pronoun. If you want to make that connection or contrast the examples, this song would be helpful.

7. DÍMELO – ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

You’ll need to preview and make a decision on this one. The original video is DEFINITELY not school-appropriate… BUT, the lyrics are perfect for commands. Your call!

9. RECUÉRDAME – COCO (CARLOS RIVERA)

Who doesn’t love a song from Coco? The only command is “recuérdame,”  but you’ll hear it again and again. And…. Coco.

10. OLVÍDAME Y PEGA LA VUELTA – JENNIFER LOPEZ Y MARC ANTONY

Cheese it up with these duets. The second one has more negative commands!

11. SÉ CHÉVERE – SR. WOOLY

Not strictly “authentic,” but THE BEST SONG EVER for commands. Your students will love you for showing this one. 

What Spanish songs with commands did I miss? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

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