National Anthem Comparison
Argentina vs Paraguay
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
34
34 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Argentina and Paraguay, both South America nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Argentina's "Argentine National Anthem" was written in 1812, while Paraguay's "Paraguayan National Anthem" dates to 1846.
Both anthems share themes of freedom, independence and battle / war. Argentina additionally explores flag, while Paraguay also touches on revolution.
The emotional tones differ: Argentina's anthem is majestic, while Paraguay's is fierce.
Argentina's anthem predates Paraguay's by 34 years, having been written in 1812 compared to 1846.
Argentina changed its national anthem in 1900, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Argentina
🕊 Freedom 🗽 Independence ⚔ Battle / War 🚩 Flag
Paraguay
🕊 Freedom 🗽 Independence ⚔ Battle / War 🔥 Revolution
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom 🗽 Independence ⚔ Battle / War
Metadata
| Argentina | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1812 | 1846 |
| Adopted | 1813 | 1846 |
| Lyricist | Vicente López y Planes | Francisco Acuña de Figueroa |
| Composer | Blas Parera | Francisco Jose Debali (disputed) |
| Language | es | es |
| Region | South America | South America |
Lyrics Side by Side
Argentina
Himno Nacional Argentino
Original
Oíd, Mortales, el grito sagrado:
¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!
¡Oíd el ruido de rotas cadenas:
ved en trono a la noble Igualdad!
Ya su trono dignísimo abrieron
las Provincias Unidas del Sud
y los libres del mundo responden:
¡Al gran Pueblo Argentino salud!
[Coro]
Sean eternos los laureles
que supimos conseguir:
coronados de gloria vivamos
o juremos con gloria morir.
Translation
Hear, mortals!, the sacred cry:
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
Hear the sound of broken chains;
See noble equality enthroned.
Now their most worthy throne have opened
the United Provinces of the South!
And the free peoples of the world reply:
To the great Argentine people, hail!
[Chorus]
May the laurels be eternal
that we knew how to win:
crowned in glory let us live,
or let us swear to die with glory.
Paraguay
Himno Nacional Paraguayo
Original
A los pueblos de América, infausto,
Tres centurias un cetro oprimió,
Mas un día soberbia surgiendo,
¡Basta!... dijo, y el cetro rompió.
Nuestros padres, lidiando grandiosos,
Ilustraron su gloria marcial;
Y trozada la augusta diadema,
Enalzaron el gorro triunfal.
[Coro]
Paraguayos, ¡República o Muerte!
Nuestro brío nos dio libertad;
Ni opresores, ni siervos alientan,
Donde reinan unión, e igualdad.
Translation
For three centuries a baleful scepter
Oppressed the peoples of America,
But one day America rose in her pride,
Cried “Enough!” and broke the scepter.
Our fathers, fighting magnificently,
Made their martial glory shine;
And, the august diadem shattered,
They raised on high the triumphal cap.
[Chorus]
Paraguayans, Republic or Death!
Our spirit gave us freedom;
Neither oppressors nor slaves draw breath
Where union and equality reign.
Interesting facts
Argentina
- 1. In 1990, rock musician Charly García released his own rock version of the anthem on the album 'Filosofía barata y zapatos de goma'. A complaint denounced it as disrespectful, and the album's release was delayed until the courts authorised the version.
- 2. The anthem opens with a long, elaborate instrumental introduction that mixes fanfare-like and songlike motifs; musicologist Carol A. Hess likens it to the kind of introduction heard in an opera.
- 3. May 11, the date of the anthem's adoption, is celebrated annually in Argentina as 'Día del Himno Nacional Argentino' (National Anthem Day).
Paraguay
- 1. A 2025 law (Law 7427) requires every educational institution in the country to sing the anthem at least once a week
- 2. The full text has seven stanzas and a chorus, and the music opens with an instrumental introduction, but usually only the first stanza and the chorus are sung
- 3. The anthem also has an official Guarani version by Reinaldo Decoud Larrosa, approved by the Ministry of Education and Sciences in 2019, reflecting the country's official bilingualism
Listen
Argentina
Paraguay
