While Bad Bunny’s global stardom might have you wondering if he’s constantly switching between English and Spanish backstage, the truth about his language skills is more nuanced. The Puerto Rican superstar, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has conquered the global music charts without conceding his primary language, Spanish. So, can the man who collaborated with Cardi B actually hold a conversation in English?
The answer is yes, he can speak it, but with a very important caveat: he deliberately chooses not to, especially in his music and public life. His journey with English is less about fluency and more about authenticity, comfort, and the profound connection between language and identity.
The Private Struggle with a Public Language
Bad Bunny has been open about the fact that he is still on a journey to learning English. In a candid 2024 interview with Vogue, he revealed the most challenging part isn’t just pronunciation—though he joked that “all words are hard to pronounce”—but something much deeper. He explained that the hardest thing is “sometimes, conveying feelings, or what I’m truly thinking.” The core of the issue is that he feels and thinks in Spanish. When he tries to translate those innate thoughts and emotions into English, he confessed, “It’s not the same.”
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This insight is crucial to understanding his language choice. For Bad Bunny, English isn’t just a set of vocabulary and grammar rules; it’s a filter that can dilute his authentic self-expression. He prefers to keep his English practice private, telling Vogue, “I like to [speak] English in private. Not on camera or somewhere else.” This is why you’ll rarely hear him give a full interview in English.
when bad bunny said break free by ariana grande is the only song he knows most of the words to in english 😭 pic.twitter.com/5yqyZP3NAz
— cameron (@cambeserious) September 29, 2025
Despite this, he hasn’t given up on learning. There was even a viral moment of him singing along to Ariana Grande’s “Break Free,” and he has stated he wants to “work on learning new songs in English” as part of his learning process. So, while he possesses a functional understanding of English and can speak it, he lacks the confidence to use it as his main vehicle for public communication, where authenticity is everything.
A Deliberate Choice, Not a Limitation
It’s vital to recognize that Bad Bunny’s preference for Spanish is a powerful, intentional act, not a limitation. He has built his record-shattering career entirely on his own terms, refusing to anglicize his music to cross over into the English-speaking market. His attitude was perfectly summarized in his own words: “I DON’T CAAARE” if people don’t understand his lyrics. He challenges the idea that an artist must be understood in a certain language to be successful, proving that powerful art and confidence can transcend language barriers.
His historic selection for the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show has thrust this philosophy into the spotlight, sparking debates among NFL fans who questioned the appropriateness of a primarily Spanish-language performance for the American event. This controversy highlights the very norms the 31-year-old is pushing against.
🚨 Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. pic.twitter.com/yG7Vvik5HD
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 29, 2025
Furthermore, when he hosted Saturday Night Live in 2024, he used his platform to make a statement. He showcased his English, Spanish, and Spanglish skills, demonstrating that his language choices “do not come from an inability to speak English but rather a preference to speak Spanish.” This was a masterful way to show he is not limited by language; he is empowered by his choice.
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Ultimately, the question of whether Bad Bunny speaks English fluently is less important than understanding why he makes the choices he does. His journey is a powerful reminder that language is deeply tied to identity. For the singer, Spanish is the language of his heart, his home in Puerto Rico, and his unparalleled success. He can speak English, but he would rather be fully understood in the language that carries his true feelings than be misunderstood in one that doesn’t.
