National Anthem Comparison
Argentina vs Uruguay
3
Shared themes
✓
Same mood
21
21 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Argentina and Uruguay, both South America nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Argentina's "Argentine National Anthem" was written in 1812, while Uruguay's "National Anthem of Uruguay" dates to 1833.
Both anthems share themes of Freedom, Battle / War and Flag. Argentina additionally explores Independence, while Uruguay also touches on Revolution.
Both anthems carry a Majestic tone, creating a similar emotional register despite their geographic distance.
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
Uruguay
🕊 Freedom 🔥 Revolution ⚔ Battle / War 🚩 Flag
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War 🚩 Flag
Metadata
| Argentina | Uruguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1812 | 1833 |
| Adopted | 1813 | 1848 |
| Lyricist | Vicente Lopez y Planes | Francisco Acuna de Figueroa |
| Composer | Blas Parera | Francisco Jose Debali and Fernando Quijano |
| Language | es | es |
| Region | South America | South America |
Lyrics Side by Side
Argentina
Himno Nacional Argentino
Original
Oid, mortales!, el grito sagrado:
Libertad! Libertad! Libertad!
Oid el ruido de rotas cadenas;
ved en trono a la noble igualdad.
Se levanta a la faz de la Tierra
una nueva y gloriosa Nacion;
coronada su sien de laureles
y a sus plantas rendido un leon.
[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.
Rising to the face of the Earth
A new and glorious Nation;
Crowned with laurels on her brow
And at her feet a lion defeated.
[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.
Uruguay
Himno Nacional de Uruguay
Original
[Coro]
¡Orientales, la Patria o la Tumba!
¡Libertad, o con gloria morir!
Es el voto que el alma pronuncia,
Y que heroicos sabremos cumplir.
Libertad, libertad, Orientales!
Este grito a la Patria salvó,
Que a sus bravos en fieras batallas
De entusiasmo sublime inflamó.
[Coro]
Translation
[Chorus]
Easterners, the Homeland or the Grave!
Freedom, or die with glory!
This is the vow that the soul pronounces,
And which heroically we will fulfill.
Freedom, freedom, Easterners!
This cry saved the Homeland,
Inflaming its brave ones in fierce battles
With sublime enthusiasm.
[Chorus]
Interesting facts
Argentina
- 1. Argentine law requires everyone to stand in silence during the anthem, and it is customary for audiences to applaud and cheer loudly the moment it finishes at sporting events.
- 2. The anthem's melody shifts from a slow, dramatic introduction to a triumphant march, a structure that is unusual and highly theatrical compared to most national anthems.
- 3. May 11, the date of the anthem's adoption, is celebrated annually in Argentina as 'Dia del Himno Nacional Argentino' (National Anthem Day).
Uruguay
- 1. The opening words 'Orientales, la Patria o la Tumba!' (Easterners, the Homeland or the Grave!) are among the most dramatic opening lines of any anthem in the world, immediately invoking a life-or-death pledge.
- 2. Composer Francisco Jose Debali was a Hungarian immigrant who also composed several operas in Montevideo; some musicologists have noted similarities between Uruguay's anthem melody and passages from Donizetti's opera 'Lucrezia Borgia.'
- 3. At football matches, Uruguayan fans have a tradition of singing the anthem for its full duration even when the stadium PA system cuts it short, often continuing a cappella in the stands.
Listen
Argentina
Uruguay
