Shakira’s unique voice has attracted a large following, and often leads fans to wonder more about her heritage. Regardless of where she is from, she is culturally diverse in the way she speaks.
While there have been several rumors about the number of languages that Shakira can speak, it has been confirmed that she is fluent in at least five languages.
The world-renowned singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, actress, and philanthropist from Colombia is multilingual and is fluent in Portuguese, Italian, English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Rooted in Culture
Growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira has a unique background that enhances her one-of-a-kind stage presence and has helped her remain prevalent in the entertainment industry for decades. Shakira is born into a family of rich cultural diversity, as her father is American from Lebanese descent and her mother is Colombian from Spanish and Italian descent.
She grew up listening to music in several languages, including English, Lebanese, and Colombian. With a passion for music, Shakira started writing songs at eight years old, and, by the time she was ten years old, she had already begun to earn awards from local contests.
With her early recognition, there is no question that Shakira is naturally talented. She has become Colombia’s highest-selling artist of all time, selling more than sixty million albums worldwide and completing her first full album by the age of thirteen.
Not only does she have a brilliant voice, but she is known for her dancing as well.
You can see one of her most popular music videos of the song, “Whenever, Wherever,” in the YouTube link below.
Her early success initiated her desire to learn several languages. After translating some of her first album from her native language of Spanish to English, she decided that she wanted to learn English so she could have full control over her songwriting for the duration of her career.
She claims her hard-working, motivated nature is the reason for her success in learning how to speak English fluently. She also followed four steps: persevering through mistakes, using real life resources, understanding the source of her desire to learn, and immersing herself daily.
The same principles applied to the other languages she has picked up throughout her travels. She became fluent in Portugese while on a concert tour through Brazil in her teenage years, and she learned Italian by immersing herself in the culture of Italy while traveling.
Living Richly
Her rich diversity, however, far exceeds her ability to speak several languages.
Shakira grew up in a poor family, as the youngest of eight children and living in an impoverished area. Her family’s upbringing became part of her motivation to succeed in the music industry, and largely shaped her outlook on perspective on life.
Shakira has used her fame and fortune to become an avid philanthropist. In 1997, she founded Pies Descalzos Foundation to provide access to education for poor children in her home country of Colombia.
Her dedication to this foundation initiated her involvement in several other organizations over the years. She is dedicated to improving the lives of children who are living in vulnerable conditions, specifically through universal education, healthy development, and nutrition.
She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, further advocating to increase access to formal education for children across the world.
You can see her recent post about her partnership with Disney, serving children with pediatric cancer, in the Instagram post below.
Shakira, in Arabic, means “to be thankful,” which she demonstrates gracefully through her philanthropic work. With her unique presence and tireless efforts to make the world a better place for generations to come, Shakira lives in a way that is true to the cultural meaning of her name.