You’ve seen the clips. You’ve heard the verse. Ever since SZA hopped on the remix of Kali Uchis’s "Fue Mejor," the internet has been spiraling. Fans are practically begging for a full Spanish album, while others are squinting at their screens, wondering if she’s actually fluent or just really good at mimicking sounds.
Honestly, the confusion makes sense. In the music video, SZA looks and sounds like she’s been speaking the language her whole life. But if you’re looking for a simple "yes" or "no" on her bilingual status, it’s a bit more nuanced than a Duolingo streak.
Does SZA Speak Spanish Fluently?
Let’s cut to the chase: No, SZA is not fluent in Spanish. She doesn't grow up in a Spanish-speaking household, and she isn't Latina. Despite the theories floating around TikTok, Solána Imani Rowe (her real name) was born in St. Louis and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey.
Her background is actually a mix of African American and what she has described in past interviews as a Christian-Muslim household. Her dad was a producer at CNN and her mom was an executive at AT&T. No hidden roots in Medellín or Mexico City here.
So, how did she pull off that verse in "Fue Mejor" without sounding like a total tourist? It comes down to her "ear." SZA is known for having an incredible ability to manipulate her voice—fans even joke that she speaks her own language, "Szanese," because of her unique pronunciation in English. When it came time to record with Kali Uchis, she reportedly worked intensely on her phonetics to make sure she wasn't just butchering the lyrics.
The Kali Uchis Collaboration That Started It All
The "Fue Mejor" remix wasn't just a random career move. It was a cultural reset for her fanbase. When the track dropped in 2021, people lost their minds. SZA’s verse is sultry, melodic, and—shockingly—pretty well-pronounced.
"Besé tu boca y me hundí en el ayer..."
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She sings those lines with a confidence that tricked a lot of people into thinking she was hiding a second language. Kali Uchis, who is Colombian-American and very much fluent, actually praised SZA for the effort she put in. It wasn't just a "copy-paste" job. SZA took the time to understand the emotion behind the words, even if she couldn't hold a 20-minute conversation about the weather in Spanish.
But let’s be real for a second. If you listen closely, native speakers have pointed out that her accent is "thick." It’s charming, but it’s definitely the sound of someone who learned the lines phonetically. It’s the musical version of "faking it 'til you make it," and honestly? She made it.
Why People Think SZA is Latina
The rumors didn't start in a vacuum. There are a few reasons why the "Does SZA speak Spanish?" question keeps trending:
- The Aesthetic: SZA often experiments with her look, and in the "Fue Mejor" video, the styling leaned heavily into a vibe that many associated with Latina icons.
- The "Szanese" Factor: Because she already slurs and stylizes her English lyrics, her transition into Spanish felt strangely natural. Her voice fits the "urbano" and R&B-en-Español pocket perfectly.
- Ambiguous Features: People love to speculate about ethnicity. Because she has a diverse heritage (African American with a mother often cited as having different cultural influences), people often project what they want to see.
It’s also worth noting that she has a massive following in Latin America. When she performs in places like Chile or Argentina, the crowd goes feral. She usually sticks to English during these sets, though she’ll throw out a few "Gracias" and "Te amo"s like any other touring artist.
Is There a Spanish Album Coming?
Probably not. At least, not a full one.
SZA is notoriously slow with releases—we waited five years for SOS after Ctrl. Adding the hurdle of learning a whole new language for an album seems unlikely. However, she has hinted at wanting to explore more "global" sounds. She clearly enjoys the challenge of singing in different cadences.
What's more likely is that we'll see more features. The success of her work with Kali Uchis showed that she doesn't need to be fluent to make a hit. She just needs the right producer and a good vocal coach.
The Reality of Celebrity Language Skills
We live in an era where artists like Drake, Cardi B, and even Beyoncé have dabbled in Spanish to tap into the massive Latin market. It’s smart business. But there’s a difference between "Spanish-language artist" and "artist who sang a song in Spanish."
SZA falls firmly into the latter category. She’s an enthusiast, not a native.
If you’re trying to learn the language yourself, don't use SZA lyrics as your primary study guide. You’ll end up with a very specific, very "vibey" accent that might get you some weird looks in a Madrid coffee shop.
What to Watch Next
If you want to hear her best attempt at the language, go watch the "Fue Mejor" music video again. Pay attention to the way she rolls her R's—it's not perfect, but the effort is 10/10.
To see the real SZA, check out her older interviews from the Ctrl era. You’ll hear her natural Jersey accent and realize just how much of a "character" she puts on when she steps into the recording booth. It's all part of the artistry.
Keep an eye on her upcoming features. While a full project isn't on the horizon, the door is definitely open for more bilingual tracks now that she knows she can pull it off. If you’re a fan, the best thing to do is appreciate the music for what it is: a beautiful experiment in cross-cultural R&B.
Actionable Insight: If you're a creator or artist looking to emulate SZA's crossover success, focus on phonetic training. You don't need to be fluent to respect a culture's language in your art, but you do need to put in the work to ensure your delivery doesn't feel like a caricature. Listen to native speakers, hire a dialect coach for the session, and prioritize the "feeling" of the words over perfect grammar.