Inklingo
"El corazón es un gitano, no se fija en ningún lugar."

Popularized by Gipsy Kings / Traditional Proverb

/el koh-rah-SOHN es oon hee-TAH-noh, noh seh FEE-hah en neen-GOON loo-GAR/

The heart is a gypsy, it doesn't settle in any one place.

Level:B2Style:ColloquialPopular:★★★★

💡 Understanding the Quote

Original Spanish:
"El corazón es un gitano, no se fija en ningún lugar."
English Translation:
The heart is a gypsy, it doesn't settle in any one place.
Deeper Meaning:
This quote uses the metaphor of a gypsy, a traditionally nomadic person, to describe the fickle and restless nature of the human heart. It suggests that feelings of love and affection are not static; they wander and cannot be permanently tied down to one person or place.

🎨 Visual Representation

An artistic representation of a heart with wings, flying over a changing landscape, symbolizing its restless nature.

The quote poetically describes the heart's restless, free-spirited, and wandering nature.

🔑 Key Words

corazóngitano
lugar
lugar
place

📖 Context

This phrase is a well-known Spanish proverb popularized globally by the French-Spanish group Gipsy Kings in their iconic 1987 song, 'Bamboléo'.

📝 In Action

No te enamores de él, su corazón es un gitano.

B2

Don't fall in love with him, his heart is a gypsy.

Después de la ruptura, ella dijo con tristeza: 'El corazón es un gitano, no se fija en ningún lugar'.

B2

After the breakup, she said sadly: 'The heart is a gypsy, it doesn't settle in any one place.'

Me encanta viajar y mudarme constantemente. Supongo que mi corazón es un gitano.

B1

I love to travel and move constantly. I guess my heart is a gypsy.

✍️ About the Author

Popularized by Gipsy Kings / Traditional Proverb

🌍French (with Spanish Romani heritage)📅 Band formed in 1978

📜 Historical Context

The term 'gitano' refers to the Romani people in Spain, who have a long and complex history and were historically perceived as nomadic. The proverb draws on this cultural image to create a powerful metaphor. The Gipsy Kings, a group of musicians of Spanish Romani descent, amplified this traditional saying and made it an international phenomenon.

🌍 Cultural Significance

Thanks to the massive success of the song 'Bamboléo', this phrase is embedded in the popular culture of the entire Spanish-speaking world and beyond. It perfectly captures a feeling of romantic restlessness or an inability to commit, often used with a mix of poetic melancholy and worldly wisdom.

📚 Literary Analysis

The quote's power comes from its direct and evocative metaphor: 'corazón = gitano'. This comparison instantly conjures images of travel, freedom, a lack of roots, and a life lived outside conventional norms. It elevates the simple idea of being 'fickle in love' to a more profound, poetic statement about human nature.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing Fickle Love

Use this phrase to describe someone (or yourself) who falls in and out of love easily or seems unable to commit. It has a more poetic and less judgmental tone than simply saying 'they can't settle down'.

Expressing Wanderlust

The quote can also be used more broadly to describe a restless spirit that isn't tied to any specific place, reflecting a love for travel, change, and new experiences.

🔗 Related Quotes

✍️ More from This Author

"Bamboléo, bamboléa, porque mi vida yo la prefiero vivir así"

A declaration of preferring to live a free, perhaps unstable ('bamboléo' means to sway), life, from the same song.

💭 Similar Themes

"No hay camino, se hace camino al andar"

Antonio Machado

Also speaks to a life of movement and forging one's own path rather than following a fixed one.

"Un clavo saca otro clavo"

Traditional Proverb

A proverb about moving on from love ('One nail drives out another'), reflecting the heart's ability to move on.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: El corazón es un gitano, no se fija en ningún lugar.

Question 1 of 2

The quote 'El corazón es un gitano' uses the 'gitano' (gypsy) as a metaphor for what quality?

🏷️ Categories

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this quote considered offensive?

While the quote uses a stereotype, it has become a widely accepted and poetic proverb. In its common usage, the focus is entirely on the metaphorical meaning of a 'wandering heart' and is not intended to be offensive. However, it's good to be aware of the historical context.

Can I use this quote about myself?

Yes, absolutely. It's often used in a self-reflective way to describe one's own inability to settle down, either in love or in a physical location. It can convey a sense of romantic wanderlust.