Learn how to speak like a Mexican watching Luis Miguel’s Netflix series

Luis Miguel and the actor who portrays his younger self, Diego Boneta. Photo: File

Season 2 of “Luis Miguel, la Serie” is expected to drop on Netflix this March. This is good news if you’re learning Spanish — especially the Mexican variety.

The Netflix and Telemundo show follows the life story and career of Mexican superstar singer Luis Miguel.

The first season of the show proved to be a great success for Netflix as it was widely praised by viewers and critics across the Spanish-speaking world. It’s also an opportunity for foreigners to learn a little pop-culture background while being exposed to everyday lingo.

Teachers recommend viewing Spanish-language TV shows with subtitles to help expand student vocabulary and improve comprehension skills. As an added benefit, unlike traditional audiovisual aids, television shows contain a good deal of slang and idioms common in everyday speech. 

The series makes common use of Mexican slang words and idioms such as güey (pal, buddy, idiot), neta (for real?) and chido (very cool).

Netflix settings let viewers adjust closed-caption settings and, at least in this case, decide whether the audio is heard in the original Spanish with English captions or dubbed in English with a Spanish translation at the bottom of the screen.

Other popular Netflix productions that are often recommended for this purpose include shows such as “La Casa de las Flores” and “Club de Cuervos.”

The highly anticipated second season will come three years after the debut of the show, a delay due in part to production complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The show features several of Luis Miguel ‘s biggest hits such as “La Incondicional” and “La Chica del Bikini Azul.”

Much of the more colorful lingo comes from the character of Luis Miguel’s abusive and manipulative father, played by Spanish actor Óscar Jaenada.

Luis Miguel, now 50, often referred to as “El Sol de México,” or Mexico’s sun. He is widely regarded as the most successful music artist in Latin American history.

From 2015: Luis Miguel fans disappointed at concert venue when singer doesn’t show up

Read More