National Anthem In Spanish | The Translation Lost

The U.S. national anthem has official Spanish translations, including a 1945 version rediscovered decades later and a less-known 1919 version.

If someone asked you to recite the Star-Spangled Banner in Spanish, you would probably pause. For most English speakers, the anthem exists only in its original lyrics, sung at games and ceremonies. But the U.S. government itself commissioned two Spanish translations in the 20th century — and one of them vanished for nearly sixty years.

This article covers the known Spanish versions of the national anthem: the little-known 1919 translation, “La Bandera de las Estrellas,” and the 1945 version, “El Pendón Estrellado,” commissioned under President Franklin Roosevelt. You’ll also learn why these translations were created and how the 1945 version was rediscovered.

A 1919 Version You’ve Probably Never Heard

Long before the 1945 translation, the federal government ordered a Spanish version in 1919. The University of Illinois records this early effort, though the details are sparse compared to the later project. The title was “La Bandera de las Estrellas,” a direct translation that predates the anthem’s official status.

That year was significant: World War I had just ended, and the U.S. was expanding its influence in Latin America. A Spanish anthem would serve diplomatic purposes, even if the 1919 version never gained wide use.

Historians note that the 1919 version is less documented than the 1945 one. What remains clear is that the government saw value in a Spanish-language anthem long before it became a public topic.

Why the Government Wanted a Spanish Anthem

You might assume a Spanish version of the anthem is a recent idea, tied to modern immigration debates. Actually, it dates to mid-century foreign policy. The State Department had a practical goal in mind.

• Diplomatic outreach: In 1945, the U.S. Department of State requested translations of the anthem into Spanish and Portuguese to distribute to consulates throughout Latin America.
• Presidential push: President Franklin D. Roosevelt personally encouraged the project, according to the AARP history of the Spanish version.
• Peruvian composer chosen: Clotilde Arias, a Peruvian immigrant working in New York as a jingle writer, was selected for her dual skills as translator and musician.
• Practical need: The translated anthem was meant to be performed at official events in Latin American countries, so locals could hear their native language.
• Lost for decades: After the translation was completed, the document was archived and forgotten until the Smithsonian rediscovered it in the 2000s.

This was not a domestic cultural statement. The State Department’s request for Spanish and Portuguese translations shows it was a diplomatic tool, aimed at building goodwill south of the border.

El Pendón Estrellado: The 1945 Translation

Clotilde Arias titled her translation “El Pendón Estrellado,” which mirrors the imagery of the original banner. Her background as both a composer and translator allowed her to maintain the anthem’s singable rhythm while rendering the English words into natural Spanish. The BBC has noted this rare combination of talents made her version stand out.

The government’s commission came with a deadline: submit versions in both Spanish and Portuguese. Arias delivered, and her translation was sent to U.S. consulates across Latin America. Yet within a few years, the document disappeared into archival boxes.

It was rediscovered only recently. The University of Illinois blog provides context on the earlier 1919 effort, but the 1945 version remained the more complete project. You can read the full story in the 1919 Spanish version archived there.

Each of these versions served a different purpose, from early official use to modern cultural celebration. The 1945 version is the only one with a clear government origin and a rediscovery story.

How the Translation Was Rediscovered and Performed

The rediscovery of “El Pendón Estrellado” reads like an archive mystery. For decades, the translation sat in a file cabinet, untouched. Here is how it resurfaced in the public eye.

1. Archival storage: After the State Department project ended, the translation was filed away in government records and forgotten for over sixty years.
2. Smithsonian exhibit: In 2012, the Smithsonian Institution featured the document in an exhibition on historical translations, bringing it to light.
3. NPR coverage: A story on NPR in October 2012 introduced the translation to a national audience, sharing the full backstory of Arias and her work.
4. Modern performance: In 2025, singer Nezza performed “El Pendón Estrellado” at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, marking one of its first public live performances in decades.

The fact that it was lost for decades shows how easily cultural artifacts can slip through history — even official documents commissioned by a president.

The Official Status of the Spanish Anthem

The Star-Spangled Banner became the official U.S. national anthem in 1931, well before the Spanish translation was commissioned. That means the Spanish versions are translations for diplomatic and cultural use, not official adoptions that replace the English lyrics. The Smithsonian’s exhibit on the anthem’s history clarifies this distinction.

Per the official anthem 1931 timeline, the legal status of the anthem was set long before the State Department’s project. So “El Pendón Estrellado” and “La Bandera de las Estrellas” are authorized translations, but they don’t carry the same weight as the English original in official settings.

Still, their existence matters. They show that the U.S. government actively worked to make its national symbols accessible to Spanish-speaking audiences, both at home and abroad.

The Bottom Line

Yes, the U.S. national anthem has Spanish versions, and they come with a richer history than most people realize. The 1919 translation “La Bandera de las Estrellas” was the first, while the 1945 translation “El Pendón Estrellado” was a diplomatic project that was lost and later found. Both were commissioned by the U.S. government.

If you want to learn the Spanish lyrics of “El Pendón Estrellado” for personal or cultural reasons, a certified Spanish teacher can help you master the pronunciation and understand how Arias adapted the rhyme scheme — a fun challenge for intermediate learners aiming to expand their repertoire beyond conversation and travel.