Shakira surprises fans by speaking Catalan: Star reveals that’s how she communicates with her sons

Shakira may have left Barcelona behind, but one part of her life in Catalonia has followed her all the way to Miami. The Colombian superstar surprised Spanish television viewers during her October 8 appearance on La Revuelta when she effortlessly switched between Spanish and Catalan while chatting with host David Broncano.

What started as a casual conversation quickly turned into one of the interview's funniest moments. Shakira revealed that she still speaks Catalan with her two sons, Milan and Sasha, whom she shares with former FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué.

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She admitted that she uses the language more frequently in Miami than she did while living in Catalonia. "I speak more Catalan in Miami than when I lived in Catalonia," Shakira confessed, explaining that the language has become something of a secret communication tool in her household. 

Shakira speaks Catalan on La Revuelta and surprises David Broncano

The unexpected language lesson began when Shakira casually used a popular Catalan expression during her interview. "De puta mare, como dicen en Catalunya," she said, using a colloquial phrase that roughly translates to "freaking awesome."

Broncano immediately noticed. "Do you speak Catalan?" he asked.

Shakira confirmed that she does, explaining that her connection to the language remains strong because of her children. "I speak Catalan with my children. Yes, they are Catalan," the singer explained.

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Why Shakira speaks Catalan with Milan and Sasha in Miami

For Shakira, Catalan is more than a reminder of her years in Barcelona. It also serves a surprisingly practical purpose. The singer revealed that her children sometimes switch to Catalan when they want to communicate without their friends understanding the conversation. "I speak Catalan with them in Miami. When they don't want their friends to understand them, they speak Catalan to me," she explained.

Although Milan and Sasha have grown up surrounded by multiple languages, Shakira clarified that English is their primary language when speaking to each other. "They speak a lot of English with each other. I try to speak in Spanish with them and in Catalan when I don't want other people to understand me," she said. 

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Shakira shows off her Catalan with several expressions

Shakira didn't stop at explaining how she uses the language. She also demonstrated her Catalan skills by sharing a few familiar expressions. Among the phrases she used were "Però què fas, tio!" which means "But what are you doing, dude?"

"Milan, parlem després," which means "Milan, let's talk later,” and "Hem de parlar d'això," which means "We need to talk about this."

And while she is internationally recognized for performing in Spanish and English, her ability to converse in Catalan reflects another aspect of her multilingual life.

David Broncano jokes about Gerard Piqué during the Catalan conversation

Just when the conversation seemed to be turning into an informal Catalan lesson, Broncano introduced an unexpected twist.

Shakira appeared surprised when the television host responded to her in Catalan. Curious about how someone from Jaén had learned the language, she asked whether he had once dated a Catalan woman.

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Broncano confirmed that he had and immediately turned the coincidence into a joke. "In fact, the same thing has happened to both of us," he replied, apparently alluding to their past relationships with Catalan partners.

The exchange was particularly amusing given Shakira's highly publicized breakup with Piqué, which inspired some of her most talked-about music.

Shakira's Barcelona years continue to influence her family life

Shakira's relationship with Catalonia extends well beyond her former romance with Gerard Piqué. The singer spent years living in Barcelona, where her sons Milan and Sasha were raised during their early childhood. Both children began their education in Catalonia before the family relocated to Miami in 2023.

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Their move marked a significant new chapter for Shakira, who has since balanced motherhood with her international music career. Still, the singer's comments on La Revuelta suggest that the language and cultural influences from those years remain part of her children's lives.