Ecuador National Anthem — Salve, Oh Patria
"Salve, Oh Patria" ("We Salute You, Our Homeland") is the national anthem of Ecuador. Its lyrics were written by the poet and novelist Juan León Mera in 1865, set to music by the French-born composer Antonio Neumane, and it was officially adopted in 1948. In performance, the chorus is sung with the anthem's second verse, which honours the "sons of the soil" who fought for the nation beneath the volcano Pichincha. This page gathers the anthem's Spanish lyrics, English translation, meaning and history.
Salve, Oh Patria Spanish Lyrics
Original (Spanish) version
¡Salve, Oh Patria, mil veces! ¡Oh Patria!¡Gloria a ti! ¡Gloria a ti!
Ya tu pecho, tu pecho rebosa,
gozo y paz ya tu pecho rebosa;
y tu frente, tu frente radiosa
más que el sol contemplamos lucir.
Los primeros, los hijos del suelo
que, soberbio, el Pichincha decora,
te aclamaron por siempre señora
y vertieron su sangre por ti.
Dios miró y aceptó el holocausto,
y esa sangre fue germen fecundo
de otros héroes que atónito el mundo
vio en tu torno a millares surgir.
English Translation version
Hail, O Homeland, a thousand times! O Homeland!Glory to you! Glory to you!
Your breast, your breast now overflows
with joy and peace; your breast overflows,
and your brow, your radiant brow
we behold shining brighter than the sun.
The first, the sons of the soil
that proud Pichincha adorns,
acclaimed you their lady forever
and shed their blood for you.
God beheld and accepted the sacrifice,
and that blood was a fertile seed
of other heroes whom the astonished world
saw rise around you by the thousands.
Public domain — lyrics by Juan León Mera (1865), music by Antonio Neumane (1865).
Lyrics licensed via Public Domain.
Song Details
- Singer
- Ecuador
- Lyricist
- Juan León Mera
- Music
- Antonio Neumane
- Genre
- National Anthem
- Released
- Nov 29, 1948
- Language
- Spanish
- Views
- 48
💭 Meaning of "Salve, Oh Patria" Song Lyrics
"Salve, Oh Patria" is a jubilant salute to Ecuador. Its chorus hails the homeland "a thousand times", picturing a nation whose breast "overflows with joy and peace" and whose "radiant brow" shines "brighter than the sun".
The sung second verse turns to sacrifice: the "sons of the soil", beneath the volcano Pichincha, who "shed their blood" for the country, a sacrifice God "beheld and accepted" and which became "a fertile seed of other heroes". Triumph and gratitude for the fallen, side by side.
🎬 Behind the song: how "Salve, Oh Patria" was made
The poet and novelist Juan León Mera wrote the lyrics in 1865, and the French-born composer and conductor Antonio Neumane set them to music. The song was used for decades in several forms before Ecuador officially standardised and adopted it as the national anthem in 1948. By custom, only the chorus and the second stanza are sung.
🌍 "Salve, Oh Patria" — Cultural impact & legacy
Its reference to Pichincha recalls the 1822 Battle of Pichincha, which secured independence near Quito. Grand and demanding to sing, "Salve, Oh Patria" is learned by every Ecuadorian schoolchild and performed at civic ceremonies and sporting events; its second stanza is the part heard most often.
📖 What is "Salve, Oh Patria Song Lyrics" about?
"Salve, Oh Patria" is the national anthem of Ecuador, one of the most operatic of the world's national anthems. The lyrics are by Juan León Mera and the music by Antonio Neumane.
Written in 1865 and officially adopted in 1948, it is in the public domain. The sung version pairs the chorus with the second verse.
⭐ Behind the song trivia
- "Salve, Oh Patria" means roughly "We Salute You, Our Homeland".
- Only the chorus and the second verse are sung, not the full poem.
- The lyrics are by Juan León Mera, a celebrated Ecuadorian poet and novelist.
- The music is by Antonio Neumane, a composer born in France (Corsica).
- The volcano Pichincha in the verse recalls the 1822 Battle of Pichincha that secured independence.
- Written in 1865, it was only officially adopted in 1948.
❓ Salve, Oh Patria — Frequently asked questions
What is the national anthem of Ecuador?
What does the Ecuadorian anthem mean?
Which part of the Ecuadorian anthem is sung?
Who wrote the Ecuadorian national anthem?
What does Pichincha refer to in the anthem?
When was "Salve, Oh Patria" adopted?
👥 Credits
| Vocals | Ecuador |
|---|---|
| Lyricist | Juan León Mera |
| Music Director | Antonio Neumane |
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