The National Anthem of Chile in Different Languages

El Himno Nacional de Chile en otros idiomas...

The national anthem of Chile suffered several changes during the XIX century which go from its lyrics to the melody used to sing the anthem. It is a symbol of union among Chileans and it is sung passionately on big occasions. Proof of that are the many videos that you can find on the internet, especially football related videos. This has attracted the attention of international media and articles have been written about it. Although the official version is in Spanish, there are certain versions of the lyrics in other languages. Let’s take a look at them!

The current national anthem uses the lyrics written by Eusebio Lillo in 1847 (which also uses the chorus of a previous anthem created by Bernardo de Vera y Pintado in 1819) and the music of Ramón Carnicer i Battle, composed in 1828. The anthem has six stanzas, but only the V stanza and the chorus are sung. However, during the Military Dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), the III stanza was sung after the V stanza. Due to this, the III stanza has been a taboo subject although its original meaning has nothing to do with the military regime and should not be associated to it.

The lyrics of the national anthem were written originally in Spanish, and therefore, the Spanish version is the only official one. These are the current lyrics:

Puro, Chile, es tu cielo azulado,

puras brisas te cruzan también,

y tu campo de flores bordado

es la copia feliz del Edén.

Majestuosa es la blanca montaña

que te dio por baluarte el Señor,

y ese mar que tranquilo te baña

te promete futuro esplendor.

Dulce Patria, recibe los votos

con que Chile en tus aras juró

que o la tumba serás de los libres

o el asilo contra la opresión.

However, there have been translation into indigenous languages and foreign languages which have been made by several people during the years.

IMPORTANT: Due to the own nature of languages, these versions could not be exact translations of the official lyrics. This also means that it could not be possible to sing the lyrics in a comfort and appropriate manner (matching both lyrics and music).

NOTE: Original grammar of the sources has been kept.

European Languages

German Lyrics by César Wehrhahn

Rein strahlt, Chile, Dein Himmel, der blaue,
reine Brisen Dich stetig durchwehn,
und beim Anblick der blühenden Aue,
deucht uns Eden auf Erden zu sehn.
Hoheitsvoll sind die schneeigen Anden,
die Dir Gott als ein Bollwerk vermacht,
und Dein Meer, dessen Wogen sanft branden,
ist Versprechen von künftiger Pracht.

Teure Heimat erhör jene Schwüre,
die Dir Chile am Altar entbot:
als sein Grab Dich der Freie erküre,
oder Zuflucht sei Du vorm Despot.

Danish Lyrics by Sigbrit Galster

Chile med din Himmel dybe blaa,
og de milde blaesende Vinde,
Markernes tusinde Blomster smaa
et Paradis paa Jord vi fende.
Majestaetisk højt det hvide Bjerg sig strækker
op mod Himlens blinkende Stjerne Rækker
og paa det store Hav, som dig genspejler,
vugger Fremtids Gaver paa hver lille Sejler.

Faedreland, hør efter vore Stemmers Klang,
som svaerge vil for Chiles Alter med Sang,
at vi i fred til dig vil søge hen,
at Jordbund du bliver for Frihedens Maend.

Italian Lyrics by Silvia Giani de Baccani

Puro, Chile, e lo spazio azzurino,
del sereno tuo tepido ciel;
i tuoi campi, di fiori giardino,
son dell'Eden la copia fidel.
Mäestoso di bianca montagna,
Balüardo ti diede il Signor;
ed il mar che tranquilo ti bagna
ti promette futuro splendor.

Odi, patria, il voto di fede
che il tuo popol sull'ara ti fa:
será Chile di liberi sede,
d'opressor la minaccia sará.

Indigenous Languages

The lyrics have been translated into the languages of the indigenous populations of Chile.

Mapudungun (Mapuche) Lyrics by Sofía Painequeo Tragnolao

Kalfü-wenu-meu lifklei Chile Mapu
Lifke krhef, welu chirhai kafei
Tami lhelfün wirhikalei rhaien-meu
Tami inaentuel kme mongen rhulumapu-meu.
Alüprhai tami liü lemuntu dhegüñ
Tami adhkaknueleteu Ngnemapun
Feichi tüngklechi Lafken meñetukei-meu
Kuifipu rhumel mongen wilhf-nieai-meu.

Kochi Mapu, llounge tami adhmapu mongen
Chile Mapu tañi Ngillatuwe-meu, rhfknu dhngun pneknui che
Eltun-meu rhume dheu rhngalklelmn, rhumel tamn pllü kidhu ngneuklerhupuaingn
Tamn Rhnhi mlelu Mapu-meu, katrhütuai ta kaiñe, tamn montulngeal, fei-meu rhakm konlaiaimn
kake adhkpadhngu-meu.

Another Mapudungun Version (Unknown Author)

Kall'f hueno mapu, meu m'liga
re k'me que k'rrff rupa el
rayen lef'fn ñimín quisu kahui
feimeu rume ad'n mapu may.
Cllageniechi lign'arr mahuida may
eluel g'nechén ñi ad'n al.
Mi lafquén m'ñetú auisu queimo
eluquerro k'mé mongeleal.

Ellal ka lechi mapu t'fa nga
rumel peuley ta iñ elgue m'ñ
ka taiñ rumel huitra leaiñ may
chem che rume acual moge pay.

Aymara Lyrics (Unknown Author)

Chili alajj, pachamajj laramawa
wali samannakajj sarnaqaskiraki
uraquemax phanqarampi luratawa
jamuqa kusisit wasara phanqaranit.
Suma jach'a janq'o mallkuwa
tatitux suma waqt'a churutmawa
uka lamaran k'achaki jarista
wali suma wiñay pachar
jarawi churanma.

Mujjsa marka votunak katusma
kawki chilimpi aramajj suraski,
kuna tumba jan chinuntata
ukham asilojj jan chinuntata.

Rapa Nui (Pascuence) lyrics by Manau Riva

Tire te Maitaki o ta´a rangi moana
Maitaki o te tokerau i haka vari atu
I tá henua hai tiare i tui ai
ta´a henua pe´e merahi.
Te tau o ta´a Rano tea-tea
I va´ai atu pe´e reva a te atua
Ite vaikava maguaro i hopu atu ena
I va´ai atu pu´ai pe mua.

Henua tau, ka to´o te vanaga
o te maohi i ki ai i te kona vanaga mau
te tere higa o te varua ka hapao
tatou te tangata mai te manau rake-rake.

Kunza (Atacameño) lyrics by Osiel Vega Durán

Tara, Tchile, S’ckelinar selqui cunna
ckúri ircu lan’ma sacka ya tarar
Iya patcha tticka pinat-ma
aiss pencku cappin ckelinar.
Loa ia cotch cabur tárar
Ya s’ckanna lay’cku tchamma Cappin
iya puri ircu tchulckna hutumar
hurackna taípo ckappur.

Ckachi Patcha, mácalo cota hurack
Tchile ckol ay s’hurackar au
cotchayá palun mulsi ianolo
ya tturi acknu tansir hualcher.

Other Languages

There are some versions of the lyrics in other languages made by Wikipedia users. However, it is not clear if they are an exact representation of the Spanish lyrics. Moreover, they do not come from a verified source.

Euskera Lyrics

Aratza da, Txile, zure zeru urdina
Aire garbiek ere gurutzatzen zaituzte
Eta lorez brodatutako zure zelaia
Edenaren kopia alaia da.
Ikusagarria da mendi zuria
Jainkoak gotorlekutzat eman zizuna
Eta bustitzen zaituen itsaso lasai horrek
Biharamuneko ospea zin egiten dizu.

Aberri gozoa jaso itzazu
Zure alde Txilek egindako botoak:
Askeen hilobi izango zarela
Edo zapalkuntzaren aurkako aterpe.

Russian Lyrics

Чисто Чили твоё небо синевой,
Свежи бризы рассекают твой простор,
И твои поля цветами вышиты,
Это копия счастливого Рая.
Величава эта белая гора
Что тебе дал бастионом сам Господь,
И есть море, что покой твой омывает,
Тебе обещая будущее сверкание.

Милая Родина, прими голоса
Все, что Чили в алтарях клянутся
Иль могилой станешь ты свободных,
Иль оплотом против угнетения.

Dutch Lyrics

Chili met je blauwe lucht
pure winden die over je waaien
en je veld versierd met bloemen
is een mooie kopie van eden.
Majestueuze met sneeuw bedekte bergen
die door god als een geschenk zijn gegeven
en de zee die je reinigt
die je een gunstige toekomst zal geven.

Prachtig vaderland, ontvang de stemmen
waarmee Chili in je hart zwoer.
Dat of het graf zal je van de vrije zijn
of het asiel tegen onderdrukking.

French Lyrics

Chili, pur est ton ciel bleuté;
pures aussi sont les brises qui te survolent,
et tes campagnes bordées de fleurs
sont la copie joyeuse de l'Éden.
Majestueuse est la montagne blanche
que le Seigneur t'a donné comme place forte,
et cette mer qui te baigne tranquillement
te promet la splendeur future.

Chère patrie, acceptez notre dévotion
avec laquelle le Chili a juré sur tes autels
que tu seras la tombe des hommes libres,
ou l'asile contre l'oppression.

English Lyrics

How pure, Chile, is your blue sky
And how pure the breezes that blow across you
And your countryside embroidered with flowers
Is a wonderful copy of Eden.
How majestic are the snow-covered mountains,
That were given to you by God as protection
And the sea that tranquilly bathes your shores
Promises future splendour for you.

Beloved Homeland, receive the vows
That Chile gave you on your altars.
That you be either the tomb of the free
Or a refuge from oppression.

Portuguese Lyrics

Puro, Chile, é teu céu azulado,
puras brisas te cruzam também,
e teu campo de flores bordado,
é a cópia feliz do Éden.
Majestosa é a branca montanha
Que te deu por baluarte o Senhor
e esse mar que tranquilo te banha,
te promete um futuro esplendor.

Doce pátria, recebe os votos
Com os que Chile em teus altares jurou
Que ou serás tumba dos livres,
ou o asilo contra a opressão.

It is most likely that there has to be more translations into other languages, but this post would be yuge (as Donald Trump would say). So, do you know any other versions?

Tell us in the comments!

Also, here you have an instrumental version if you wish to try and sing the anthem in different languages:

REFERENCES:
Canales-Toro, C. (1960). Canción Nacional de Chile: Edición Crítica de la Letra. Santiago de Chile: Andrés Bello.
Vega-Durán, O. (2000). Himno Nacional de la República de Chile: Antología de versiones Vocales e Instrumentales. LOM Ediciones.