El Apellido Nicolas Guillen English Translation May 2026

In English, "el apellido" translates literally to "the last name" or "the surname" . When referencing " Nicolás Guillén

," you are looking at the names of Cuba's celebrated National Poet, whose full name was Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista .  Etymology and Meaning 

Los apellidos | Spanish to English Translation - SpanishDictionary.com

Los apellidos | Spanish to English Translation - SpanishDictionary.com. los apellidos. los apellidos. -the last names. SpanishDictionary.com

How do you say what is your last name in Spanish? - QuillBot

El Apellido " (The Family Name), written by the Cuban national poet Nicolás Guillén, is a foundational work of Afro-Cuban literature. It explores the loss of African identity and ancestral names due to the transatlantic slave trade.

Below is an English translation of key excerpts from the poem, along with a summary of its core themes. English Translation: "The Family Name" (Excerpts)

"Don't I have thenA Mandinga, Congo or Dahomeyan grandfather?What's his name? Oh, yes, tell me?...Am I Yelofe?...Could it be Guillén Kongué?Oh, who knows!What an enigma between the waters!"

For a full translation of this poem, see this online archive or reputable anthologies, such as Poetry Foundation's selection of works by Nicolás Guillén. Summary of Themes

The Loss of Roots: The poem reflects on how African family names were lost, replaced by Spanish colonial names during slavery.

Identity Enigma: Guillén questions his own Spanish name, searching for the "bloody and captured" surname that crossed the sea in chains.

Mixed Heritage: By pairing Spanish first names with hypothetical African surnames, he highlights the complex, mixed identity of Afro-Cubans.

Cultural Reclamation: The poem acts as an elegy to reclaim a history often ignored by official records. Where to Find the Full Text

Bilingual Editions: The poem is available in anthologies like My Last Name / El Apellido, translated by Roberto Márquez.

Online Resources: Further analysis and translations are available via academic repositories and the Internet Archive.

Transculturation in the Poetry of Nicolás Guillén - ucf stars

3. "Una mazorca verde" (A green ear of corn)

This is a metaphor for potential. The green corn has not yet matured; similarly, the African identity in Cuba had not yet "popped" into full consciousness before slavery crushed it.

Part 3: English Translation – "The Last Name" or "The Surname"

The following is a faithful English translation of El Apellido by Nicolás Guillén, balancing literal accuracy with poetic flow.

THE LAST NAME
by Nicolás Guillén
(Translated for this article)

My last name?
The Spaniards gave it to me.
(They were the first ones to give it to me.)
But I don’t ask it of anyone,
nor do I owe it to anyone.
My last name is mine, mine, mine;
but my grandparents did not give it to me —
only the conquerors did.
I carry it
like someone carries a scar.
And if anyone asks me for my last name,
I tell them:
— I have a last name,
but I don’t know where it comes from.
Could it be from some Black man of my blood?
Could it be from some Congo, some Bantu?
I don’t know.
I only know that I am now named
like those who stole my homeland from me.
My last name?
My true last name?
The one the master took from me
along with the chain and the whip?
I lost it.
I lost it like a ring lost in the sea.
I lost it like a voice is lost.
I lost it like the land is lost.
I lost it.
Oh, my lost last name,
my last name stolen by the executioner,
my last name!
Will it return?
Will it return one day?
Will it return from the root of fallen trees?
Will it return from the entrails of minerals?
Will it return from the depths of rivers?
Will it return from the night?
Will it return from silence?
Will it return from nothingness?
Will it return from this very hatred that beats inside me
and burns my guts?
Oh, my last name!
My last name!

Q3: Why does the speaker say "¿Eh, ¿usted?" (Hey, you?)?

The poem opens as a dialogue. The speaker is confronting you—the reader, the white establishment, or the Spanish descendant who takes surnames for granted. By the end, the question turns inward.

Part 2: The Original Spanish Text – "El Apellido" by Nicolás Guillén

Below is the complete original text of El apellido. Read it aloud to appreciate its rhythmic intensity.

EL APELLIDO
por Nicolás Guillén

¿Mi apellido?
Me lo dieron los españoles.
(Ellos fueron los primeros que me lo dieron.)
Pero yo no se lo pido a nadie,
ni se lo quiero a nadie.
Mi apellido es mío, mío, mío;
pero no me lo dieron mis abuelos
sino los conquistadores.
Lo tengo
como quien tiene una cicatriz.
Y si alguien me pregunta por mi apellido,
yo le digo:
—Tengo un apellido,
pero no sé de dónde viene.
¿Será de algún negro de mi sangre?
¿Será de algún congo, algún bantú?
No sé.
Yo solo sé que me apellido ahora
como los que me robaron la patria.
¿Mi apellido?
¿Mi verdadero apellido?
¿Aquél que me quitó el amo
junto con la cadena y el látigo?
Lo perdí.
Lo perdí como se pierde un anillo en el mar.
Lo perdí como se pierde la voz.
Lo perdí como se pierde la tierra.
Lo perdí.
¡Ay, mi apellido perdido,
mi apellido robado por el verdugo,
mi apellido!
¿Volverá?
¿Volverá un día?
¿Volverá de la raíz de los árboles caídos?
¿Volverá de la entraña de los minerales?
¿Volverá del fondo de los ríos?
¿Volverá de la noche?
¿Volverá del silencio?
¿Volverá de la nada?
¿Volverá de este mismo odio que me late
y que me quema las entrañas?
¡Ay, mi apellido!
¡Mi apellido!

3. The Search for Identity in the Present

Despite not knowing his “true” name, Guillén does not ask for a new one. He interrogates the name he has. This is not a victim’s poem – it is an accuser’s poem. He turns the Spanish name into evidence of a crime.

Part 2: Full English Translation of "El Apellido"

Below is the original Spanish text of "El apellido" by Nicolás Guillén, followed by an accurate line-by-line el apellido nicolas guillen english translation that preserves the rhythm, rage, and sorrow of the original.

Part 6: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)