Lesson 5: ¿Y Como Es Él?

1. Context Explanation

José Luis Perales' song ¿Y Como Es Él? is a poignant ballad that delves into the feelings of a man facing the painful reality that the woman he loves is now with someone else. The song's title, which translates to 'And What Is He Like?', sets the stage for a series of questions that the narrator directs towards the woman, seeking to understand who has taken his place in her life. The lyrics are a mix of curiosity, sorrow, and a subtle acceptance of the situation, which is a testament to Perales' ability to capture complex emotions in his music.

The song begins with the narrator noticing a change in the woman's eyes, suggesting that she has something to confess. His plea for her to speak before it's too late indicates his anticipation of the inevitable news. The repeated questions '¿Y cómo es él?' and '¿En qué lugar se enamoró de ti?' reflect the narrator's desire to know about the new man in her life, while also highlighting his own heartbreak. The term 'ladrón' (thief) metaphorically describes the new man as someone who has stolen a piece of the narrator's life, emphasizing the sense of loss he feels.

Despite the pain, there is a poignant resignation in the narrator's words as he advises the woman to dress well and smile so that her new love does not suspect her past sorrow. The narrator's request for forgiveness for asking one more question shows his struggle to let go. José Luis Perales is known for his emotive storytelling through music, and ¿Y Cómo Es Él? is a prime example of his skill in conveying the depth of human emotion, particularly the bittersweet acceptance of love lost.

2. Spanish Translation

3. Pronunciation Guide – Sing with Confidence!

This slow, expressive song allows you to focus on clarity, natural pauses, and emotional pronunciation. The lyrics are conversational, making it a great tool for practicing real-life Spanish intonation.

Challenging Sounds & Tips:

✅ ¿Y cómo es él? – Focus on the rise in pitch typical of questions in Spanish.

• ¿Cómo es él? → Slightly raise your voice at the end to express curiosity or doubt.
  
  

✅ The “LL” and “Y” sounds

• Words like llevar, ella, and allí are pronounced like “y” in most Spanish-speaking countries.
  
  

• Practice: ella lo lleva allí → [EH-ya lo YE-va a-YEE]
  
  

✅ The “H” is always silent

• Hombre (man) is pronounced OM-breh.
  
  

• Ahora → a-OH-ra, not “how-ra”!
  
  

✅ Smooth vowel linking

• In se irá contigo, practice connecting vowels smoothly.
  
  

• irá = ee-RAH, and contigo = con-TEE-go
  
  

• Together: ee-RAH-con-TEE-go
  
  

✅ Word stress and emotion

• This song relies heavily on emotional delivery. Emphasize stressed syllables:
  
  

• ¿En qué lugar se enamoró de ti?
  
  

• ¿De dónde es? ¿A qué dedica el tiempo libre?
  
  

🎵 Pro tip: Record yourself asking the questions in the first verse—like you’re really talking to someone you care about.

Video song - Y como es el?

4. Grammar & Vocabulary Highlights

This song is built on direct and indirect questions, along with vocabulary related to love, doubt, and loss.

Key Vocabulary (10+):

Grammar Points:

📌 Question Structure

• Direct: ¿Cómo es él? (What is he like?)
  
  

• Indirect: Quisiera saber cómo es él. (I’d like to know what he’s like.)
  
  

• Practice both forms for everyday use!
  
  

📌 Reflexive Verbs – Se enamoró

• Él se enamoró de ti. = He fell in love with you.
  
  

• Reflexive verbs often express emotions or states.
  
  

📌 Verb Tenses: Present vs. Future

• Se irá contigo (He will go with you) – future tense.
  
  

• Te lo llevas (You take it) – present.
  
  

📌 Use of “¿A qué…?”

• ¿A qué dedica el tiempo libre? = What does he spend his free time on?
  
  

• Useful structure: ¿A qué te dedicas? (What do you do for a living?)
  
  

📌 Personal Pronouns

Strong use of él, tú, yo, se – pay attention to how they change the subject/focus.

5. Practice & Activities

🎧 A. Fill in the Blank – Lyrics Practice
Listen and complete:

¿Y cómo es ______?
¿En qué lugar se ______ de ti?
¿De dónde es, a qué ______ el tiempo libre?
Pregúntale, ¿por qué ha ______ el tiempo de un ladrón...?

🎶 B. Sing-Along Challenge

1. Speak the lines like real questions.
   
   

2. Sing while imagining you're talking directly to someone.
   
   

3. Record and listen: How natural do you sound?
   
   

🗣 C. Discussion Questions

1. How would you describe the emotional tone of the song?
   
   

2. What do you think the speaker feels: jealousy, sadness, resignation?
   
   

3. Have you ever had a conversation where you wanted answers like this?
   
   

📝 D. Creative Task – Your Own Questions
Write 3 questions you would ask someone you love in this style:

• ¿Qué piensa cuando no estoy?
  
  

• ¿A quién mira cuando sonríe?
  
  

🎭 E. Emotional Reading – Act it Out
Say these phrases with feeling:

• ¿Y cómo es él? (suspicious, soft)
  
  

• ¿Se irá contigo? (hurt, doubtful)
  
  

• No soy yo su dueño (sad, defeated)
  
  

Con esta canción practicarás cómo preguntar, cómo sonar más natural y cómo expresar emociones sutiles en español. ¡Cántala con el alma! 🎤💔