National Anthem Comparison
Paraguay vs Uruguay
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
13
13 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Paraguay and Uruguay, both South America nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Paraguay's "Paraguayan National Anthem" was written in 1846, while Uruguay's "National Anthem of Uruguay" dates to 1833.
Both anthems share themes of Freedom, Battle / War and Revolution. Paraguay additionally explores Independence, while Uruguay also touches on Flag.
The emotional tones differ: Paraguay's anthem is Fierce, while Uruguay's is Majestic.
Both anthems share the same lyricist: Francisco Acuna de Figueroa, linking the two nations through a common poetic voice.
Shared themes
Paraguay
🕊 Freedom 🗽 Independence ⚔ Battle / War 🔥 Revolution
Uruguay
🕊 Freedom 🔥 Revolution ⚔ Battle / War 🚩 Flag
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War 🔥 Revolution
Metadata
| Paraguay | Uruguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1846 | 1833 |
| Adopted | 1846 | 1848 |
| Lyricist | Francisco Acuna de Figueroa | Francisco Acuna de Figueroa |
| Composer | Francisco Jose Debali (disputed) | Francisco Jose Debali and Fernando Quijano |
| Language | es | es |
| Region | South America | South America |
Lyrics Side by Side
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
To the peoples of America, unfortunate,
Three centuries a scepter oppressed,
But one day, rising with pride,
Enough! it said, and broke the scepter.
Our fathers, fighting grandly,
Illustrated their martial glory;
And, the august diadem broken,
They raised the triumphal cap.
[Chorus]
Paraguayans, Republic or Death!
Our spirit gave us freedom;
Neither oppressors nor servants breathe
Where union and equality reign.
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
Paraguay
- 1. Paraguayan law requires schoolchildren to sing the anthem every Monday morning at the start of the school week, making it one of the most frequently performed anthems in daily life
- 2. The full anthem has an introduction, six verses, and a chorus, but only the introduction and first verse are typically sung at official events
- 3. Paraguay is one of the few countries where the anthem is widely known in two languages: Spanish and Guarani, reflecting the country's official bilingualism
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
Paraguay
Uruguay
