Bad Bunny's DtMF: The Meaning of the Lyrics (With English Translation)

Everything you should know about this Puerto Rican music sensation

If you’ve heard (or heard of) Bad Bunny’s 2025 hit “DtMF,” you might be wondering what this title stands for, what it means, and what sort of message the whole song is trying to convey! Pues, we’re happy you’re here, because we’ve put together an in-depth look into this emotional, nostalgic, and heartwarming song by Bad Bunny. We’ll go over the song’s meaning, the lyrics in English and Spanish, as well as why the heck you may have seen so many people using this song in a tear-jerking way on TikTok. As Benito would say, ¡zumba! 🐇

DtMF Bad Bunny Meaning

“DtMF” stands for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” or “I should’ve taken more photos.” “DtMF” is the name of a Bad Bunny song in which the title phrase expresses a wish that—while you were experiencing a special person, place, or moment in your life—you had taken more photos, shown more affection, and appreciated it all more.[1]

Section 1 of 6:

What is the Bad Bunny song ‘DtMF’ about?

  1. “DtMF” is a nostalgic track about not appreciating your loved ones when you have them.
    “DtMF” stands for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” which means “I should’ve taken more photos” and is also the title of the album (in this Jimmy Fallon interview, you can listen to Bad Bunny explain the phrase himself). Overall, the song is very nostalgic and emotional, but the title phrase focuses on a feeling of regret for not appreciating the important people, places, and moments in our lives when they were right in front of us.[2]
    • In the song, Bad Bunny applies this feeling universally to his friends, family, past lovers, and the culture and community of his native Puerto Rico. He sings about all of these parts of his life and expresses a wish that he’d taken more photos and kissed and embraced them more.
    • However, the song is ultimately uplifting, positive, and powerful. Despite this nostalgia and yearning for the past, Bad Bunny strikes a tone of acceptance and a will to move forward.
    • Even when he reflects on amazing memories of crazy nights out with friends, Bad Bunny acknowledges that everyone has grown up and moved forward—and that they have new things to focus on that are more valuable to them now (like family, community, and culture).
    • Overall, the song is heartfelt and speaks sincerely from Bad Bunny’s reflections on his life, home, and upbringing. It expresses a longing for the past and the things we would’ve done to appreciate our loved ones and special moments with them more, but also an understanding of how things evolve as we grow and change throughout our lives.
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Section 2 of 6:

‘DtMF’ Lyrics, Explained (English & Spanish)

  1. 1
    Verse 1 The opening verse describes the beauty of San Juan, Puerto Rico (where Bad Bunny is from). He sings about the “sunset bonito” (“beautiful sunset”), and all the things that people who’ve left the island or passed away will miss (“disfrutando de todas esas cosas que extrañan los que se van”). Then, Bad Bunny starts to reminisce on the last time that he looked in a certain person’s eyes, most likely a past romantic partner. He expresses a wish to tell her things he didn’t tell her before (“contarte las cosas que no te conté”) and take the pictures of her that he didn’t take last time (“tirarte la' foto' que no te tiré”).[3]
    • “Tengo el pecho pela'o, me dio una matá',” sings Bad Bunny, meaning that his chest feels raw or empty and that he got hit hard by heartbreak, emotional stress, or missing someone in his life.
    • Then, Bad Bunny jumps into action, saying that he’s going to come over to wherever this person lives with some friends and have an amazing time together. He also mentions her playing the güiro for him, which is a musical instrument that often has phallic or sexual connotations.
    • This verse ends with a description of how “addicted” Bad Bunny is to this girl. He compares her to addictive substances like cocaine (“Mi blanquita, perico, mi kilo”) in order to express his intense feelings.
    • Translated Lyrics (English):
      Another beautiful sunset I see in San Juan
      Enjoying everything that the departed are missing out on
      Enjoying nights like those that don't come often
      That don't come often
      But wanting to go back to the last time
      That I looked into your eyes
      And to tell you the things I didn't get to tell you (You look like my crush, haha)
      And to take the pictures I didn't get to take
      (Damn, I swear you look so pretty, let me take a picture of you)
      Ayy, my chest feels empty, I got hit hard
      My heart is pounding
      Tеll me, baby, where arе you?
      I can meet you there with RoRo, Julito, Krystal
      Roy, Edgar, Seba, Óscar, Darnell, and Big Jay, playing batá
      Today, we'll leave the streets in chaos
      And it'd be amazing if you play the güiro for me
      I see your name and it makes me sigh
      I don't know if it's fireworks or gunshots
      My whitey, my cocaine, my kilo
      I'm in PR chilling, but
  2. 2
    Chorus Going into the chorus, Bad Bunny echoes the title of the track and its album: “Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve” (“I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you”). He also says that he should’ve given more kisses and hugs (“beso’ y abrazo’”), expressing a nostalgia and regret that he didn’t appreciate certain moments and people when they were right in front of them.[4] Then, Bad Bunny goes on to sing about how he hopes his people never leave or move (“ojalá que los mío' nunca se muden”), which may reflect a dual hope that Puerto Ricans never leave the island (voluntarily or involuntarily) and that his close friends never abandon him.[5]
    • He also acknowledges his friends and how they support him, singing, “Y si hoy me emborracho, pues que me ayuden” (“And if I get drunk today, I hope they help me out”).
    • Translated Lyrics (English):
      I should've taken more pictures when I had you
      I should've given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could
      Ayy, I hope my people never move away
      And if I get drunk today, I hope they help me out
      I should've taken more pictures when I had you
      I should've given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could
      I hope my people never move away
      And if I get drunk today, I hope they help me out
  3. 3
    Verse 2 We stick with the feelings of nostalgia and an appreciation for one’s roots in the second verse, where Bad Bunny describes spending the day with his grandfather and playing dominoes (“hoy voy a estar con abuelo to'l día, jugando dominó”). He narrates a conversation where his grandfather asks if he’s still thinking about “you,” presumably a past girlfriend, and Bad Bunny says no, and that his time being close to her is over now. He even repeats “It's over now” (“Ya se terminó”) to hammer home the message that this relationship or connection is staying firmly in the past.[6]
    • Then, Bad Bunny embarks on a night out in his lyrics, saying that he’s going to Santurce, a district in San Juan that’s known for its nightlife.
    • He talks about partying hard, checking out women, and drinking a lot (“beber, beber, beber”). He says that he wants to drink and talk nonsense until he gets kicked out of the club. Most likely, all of this reckless behavior is done to cope with his heartbreak.
    • Finally, he speaks to his friends and encourages them to enjoy everything (“Vamo’ a disfrutar”) because they never know how much time they have left (“que nunca se sabe si nos queda poco”), further cementing the theme of nostalgia in this song.
    • Translated Lyrics (English):
      Hey, today I'll be with Grandpa all day, playing dominoes
      If he asks if I still think about you, I'll say no
      That my time being close to you is over now
      It's over now
      Ayy, fire up the machines, I'm going to Santurce
      Here, they still party hard
      Check out the girls, damn, mami, how sweet
      Today I want to drink, drink, drink
      And talk nonsense until I get kicked out
      I'm so drunk (I'm so drunk), I'm so drunk (I'm so drunk)
      Man, you drive, because even if I'm walking I'm about to crash
      I'm so drunk (I'm so drunk), I'm so drunk (I'm so drunk)
      Let's enjoy it because you never know how much time we've got left
      I should've taken more—
  4. 4
    Interlude “DtMF”’s heartfelt and sincere interlude is really a tribute to Bad Bunny’s friends, family, and the people he loves. He talks directly to his loved ones and expresses his affection for them. He thanks them for being there (“Gracias por estar aquí, de verdad”) and says that each one of them is important to him. Then, encapsulating the theme and message of the song, he gathers them all in for a photo, saying: “Vamo' pa' la foto, vengan pa'cá, métase to'l mundo, to'l corillo, vamo'” (“So, let's take the picture, come here, everyone, get in, the whole crew, let's go”).[7]
    • Translated Lyrics (English):
      Guys, I love you so much, I really do
      Thank you for being here, truly
      It's very important to me that you're here
      Each one of you means so much to me
      So, let's take the picture, come here
      Everyone, get in, the whole crew, let's go
      Let's do it
  5. 5
    Verse 3 The third and final verse is brief, and marks a departure from the focus on partying earlier in the song. Bad Bunny sings about how his friends “Bernie” and “Jan” have babies now, and his friend group has matured and moved on from flashy lifestyles and chain necklaces (“ya no estamo' pa' la movie' y las cadena'”). Now, they care more about things that are truly worthwhile, including family, music, and cultural heritage. Specifically, Bad Bunny lists Puerto Rican dance and music styles that are important to their culture and history, such as “[el] perreo, la salsa, la bomba y la plena.”[8]
    • Then, Bad Bunny invites everyone listening to check out his own contributions to Puerto Rican music: “Chequéate la mía cómo es que suena” (“Check out how mine sounds”).
    • Translated Lyrics (English):
      Now Bernie has a baby, and Jan has a girl
      We're no longer about the flashy stuff and chains
      We're here for the things that are truly worth it
      Hey, for reggaeton, salsa, bomba, and plena
      Check out how mine sounds
  6. 6
    Outro The song’s outro is mostly a repeat of the chorus, with its sweet sentimentality and wish that he’d taken more photos and spent more time with loved ones and important places that are gone now. However, ever the cheeky songwriter, Bad Bunny ends the track on a lighthearted note, singing “Ojalá…que tú me envíe' más nude', y si hoy me emborracho, que Beno me ayude” (“I hope…that you send me more nudes, and if I get drunk today, that Beno helps me”). Beno, in this lyric, is likely Bad Bunny himself (his birth name is Benito).[9]
    • Translated Lyrics (English):
      I should've taken more pictures when I had you
      I should've given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could
      I hope my people never move away
      And that you send me more nudes
      And if I get drunk today, may Beno help me.
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Section 3 of 6:

‘DtMF’ Composition, Release, and Reception

  1. 1
    “DtMF” is a mellow track with plucky beats and folk-style Puerto Rican sounds. The song has an overall nostalgic feel, both due to its lyrics and the rhythms borrowed from “plena,” a Puerto Rican call-and-response folk genre.[10] In some parts of the song, Bad Bunny’s vocals are echoed by choir chants. The beat in the track is mellow, and the beats themselves were reportedly inspired by Nintendo.[11]
  2. 2
    “DtMF” was released on January 5th, 2025, as part of DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS. Rimas Entertainment released “DtMF” as a single from Bad Bunny’s sixth solo studio album, DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS. The song debuted at #38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reached 11 million on-demand streams after only two weeks. The track went on to peak at #2 on the Hot 100 Chart, becoming Bad Bunny’s highest-charting solo song.[12]
    • “DtMF” also debuted at #5 on the U.S. Hot Latin Songs, and it reached #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart on January 25th, 2025. By that date, the song had already achieved 130.5 million streams and 3,000 downloads worldwide.
    • Also by January 25th, 2025, “DtMF” peaked at number two on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart. This was Bad Bunny’s 23rd Top Ten hit on this chart, meaning that he surpassed Taylor Swift for the all-time record (as of January 2025).[13]
  3. 3
    “DtMF” was immediately beloved by fans and critics alike. Just after its release, the song rapidly went viral on TikTok. Focusing on the title lyric, “Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve” (“I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you”), fans began to pair the song with photos of loved ones who’d passed away or whom they no longer got to see often. Bad Bunny even reacted to this video trend with a video of himself crying.[14] The song’s genuine emotion, heart, and innovative musicianship (which carries throughout the entire album) made it an instant favorite amongst fans—and critics loved it too!
    • Pitchfork’s Tatiana Lee Rodriguez wrote that Bad Bunny has succeeded in being “nostalgic for our elders while inspiring new generations to carry their teachings forward.”[15]
    • Over on Billboard, “DtMF” was ranked at number 6 in their ranking of all songs on the album. Critic Eric Rojas writes, “the song…beautifully marries the lively rhythms of modern plena with the pulsating beats of reggaetón. Its verses resonate with a deep sense of nostalgia…This message captures the essence of what it means to value the meaningful aspects of life over superficial distractions.”[16]
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Section 4 of 6:

About the DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS Album

  1. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is the 6th solo studio album by rapper and singer Bad Bunny.
    The album was released on January 5, 2025, and is widely lauded as Bad Bunny’s biggest “masterpiece” to date. The album received rave reviews from music critics, as featured in publications likePitchfork, and became the Puerto Rican musician's fourth album to top the Billboard 200 chart.[17]
    • The album itself is especially personal and emotional, as its primary subject matter explores the beauty and uniqueness of Puerto Rico, as well as the political and social issues that the community faces.
    • The album’s sound mixes Bad Bunny’s signature reggaeton with plena, salsa, bomba, and rap, making it an excellent fusion of Puerto Rico’s modern and traditional rhythms.
Section 5 of 6:

Who is Bad Bunny?

  1. Bad Bunny is a Grammy Award-winning singer and rapper from Puerto Rico.
    Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Bad Bunny is a force in modern Latin music and rap. He started gaining popularity on SoundCloud before emerging into the mainstream with songs like “I Like It” and “MÍA.” His songs are a blend of trap, reggaeton, rock, and soul, often exploring themes of love, family, fame, politics, and the beauty of his native Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny’s seven studio albums (including ones written in only Spanish) have broken records and topped charts worldwide, and he’s often credited with popularizing Latinx and Spanish-language music worldwide.[18]
    • Some of Bad Bunny’s most notable awards and accolades include:[19]
      • Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album (2021)
      • Grammy Award for Best Música Urbana Album (2022, 2023)
      • Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year (2025)
      • Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year (2025)
      • MTV Video Music Award for Artist of the Year (2022)
        • Bad Bunny was the first-ever Latinx performer to win this award.
      • Spotify’s Most Streamed Artist from 2020 to 2022
      • Billboard’s Top Artist in 2022
      • Recognition as a Billboard 200 Chart Topper, and as the first artist with a primarily Spanish-language album to achieve this.
    • On September 28, 2025, it was announced that Bad Bunny will perform at the 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show in Santa Clara, California.
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Section 6 of 6:

More Bad Bunny Songs to Explore

  1. Bad Bunny has had several global smash hits—here are just a few! Bad Bunny is one of the most popular and celebrated modern artists. In fact, he was Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022).[20] He’s released seven official studio albums, and we’ve listed some of his most popular songs below (organized by the album they’re featured on):
    • From DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (2025):
      • “NUEVAYoL:” This song is a celebration of the Latinx culture in New York City, as well as a critique of anti-immigrant policies within the U.S. government.
      • “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii:” This song represents a plea for Puerto Rico to not go through what Hawaii went through—aka, colonialism and displacement.
    • From Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (2023):
      • “MONACO:” This song celebrates Bad Bunny’s fame, status, and success in the rap and music world.
      • “WHERE SHE GOES:” This song describes a one-night stand that was unforgettable and significant, focusing on lingering feelings of desire and longing.
    • From Un Verano Sin Ti (2022):
      • “Me porto bonito:” This song sees Bad Bunny promising to change his party boy behavior for someone…if they ask him to.
      • “Titi Me Preguntó:” This song imagines a conversation between Bad Bunny and his aunt about his many girlfriends (and implied commitment issues).

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References

  1. ↑ Carlos Valverde Ochando. English and Spanish Teacher. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.justjared.com/2025/01/13/dtmf-lyrics-english-translation-bad-bunnys-song-becomes-emotional-viral-tiktok-trend/
  3. ↑ https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/badbunny/dtmf.html
  4. ↑ Carlos Valverde Ochando. English and Spanish Teacher. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/badbunny/dtmf.html
  6. ↑ https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/badbunny/dtmf.html
  7. ↑ https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/badbunny/dtmf.html
  8. ↑ https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/badbunny/dtmf.html
  9. ↑ https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/badbunny/dtmf.html
  1. ↑ https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/guide-to-plena
  2. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos-review-1235226562/
  3. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/bad-bunny-nadie-sabe-lo-que-va-a-pasar-manana-number-one-billboard-200-albums-chart-1235451431/
  4. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/rose-bruno-mars-apt-global-excl-us-number-one-12th-week-1235879549/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
  5. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos-tiktok-1235229169/
  6. ↑ https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos/
  7. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/lists/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos-songs-ranked/bad-bunny-song-12/
  8. ↑ https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2025/01/bad-bunny-album-review
  9. ↑ https://www.biography.com/musicians/bad-bunny
  10. ↑ https://www.grammy.com/artists/bad-bunny/243129
  11. ↑ https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-12-13/spotify-celebrates-3-years-of-record-breaking-bad-bunny-streaming-with-a-mexico-city-fiesta/

About This Article

Carlos Valverde Ochando
Co-authored by:
Carlos Valverde Ochando
Spanish Language Teacher
This article was co-authored by Carlos Valverde Ochando and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophie Burkholder, BA. Carlos Valverde Ochando is an English and Spanish teacher and content creator based in Granada, Spain. With over 12 years of experience, Carlos currently works as a high school teacher in Spain after recently returning from a dual-language exchange program in the US. He also creates content focused on making Spanish more accessible and authentic for learners, with an emphasis on slang, accents, and regional expressions across various Spanish-speaking regions. He is especially well-versed in Spain Spanish, Argentinian Spanish, and Mexican Spanish. Carlos has a degree in English Studies from the University of Granada and a Master’s in Secondary Education Teacher Training. This article has been viewed 5,936 times.
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Co-authors: 5
Updated: January 27, 2026
Views: 5,936
Categories: Songs
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