Below you can find a list of the best Spanish Nursery Rhymes for Kids. For convenience we have listed these nursery rhymes in Spanish with lyrics and English translation.
Spanish Nursery Rhymes for Kids
If your child is learning Spanish, nursery rhymes are one of the best ways to help them along is reading, and singing Spanish nursery rhymes.
Reading is an extremely important part of our education. One of the greatest milestones in a child’s life is the moment when they begin to read.
There is a lot you can do from a very early age, from the moment of conception in fact. One of these things is sharing nursery rhymes, songs and poems with your kids.
For this reason, we share some of our favorite Nursery Rhymes in Spanish to help you and your bilingual child prepare for the life-long joy of reading.
Related:
Nursery Rhymes in Spanish
A list of some of our favourite Spanish Nursery Rhymes With Bilingual Lyrics in Spanish and English
1. Un Elefante
Un elefante
Un elefante
no es elegante
no usa sombrero
corbata ni guantes
La trompa muy larga,
la panza gigante,
las patas muy gruesas
y orejas muy grandes
Pero eso, ya sabes,
no es lo importante
pues ya es especial
ser un elefante
An elephant
An elephant
Is not elegant
he does not wear a hat
tie or gloves
His trunk is too long,
His belly is giant,
His legs are very thick
and ears very large
But that, you know,
is not important
since it’s already special
to be an elephant
2. Sol solecito
Sol Solecito
Sol, solecito, caliéntame un poquito,
por hoy, por mañana, por toda la semana,
luna lunera, cascabelera,
cinco pollitos y una ternera,
caracol, caracol, a la una sale el sol
sale pinocho tocándo el tambor,
con una cuchara y un tenedor.
Little Sun
Sun, little sun, warm me a little,
today, tomorrow, and all week long
Moon, moon, jingle bell,
five chicks and one calf,
snail, snail, the sun comes out at one
Pinocchio comes out playing the drum,
with a spoon and a fork
This Spanish Nursery Rhyme turned song is a favorite among Venezuelan school children. You can find it here
3. Arroz Con Leche
Arroz con leche
Arroz con leche
Me quiero casar
Con una viudita
de la capital
Que sepa coser
Que sepa bordar
Que ponga la mesa
En su santo lugar.
Yo soy la viudita
La hija del Rey
Me quiero casar
Y no hallo con quién.
Rice Pudding
Rice pudding,
I want to get married
To a little widow
From the capital.
Who knows how to sew,
Who knows how to embroider,
Who puts the table
In its holy place.
I am the widow
The King’s daughter,
I want to get married,
And I don’t know to whom.
We are not sure of the origins of this Spanish nursery rhyme. There are claims that it is Spanish, Colombian, and Puerto Rican. The only thing we know for sure is that children have been singing this nursery rhyme in Spanish for several generations now! Find it here
4. Bailaba la niña alegre (de Almudena Orellana Palomares)
Bailaba la niña alegre (de Almudena Orellana Palomares)
Bailaba la niña alegre
en una noche estrellada.
Movíase al son del aire,
bajo la luna de plata.
¡Cómo bailaba la niña!
¡Cómo la niña bailaba!
Con ojos como dos faros
y finas pestañas bordadas.
Con el corazón muy blanco
y mariposas en el alma.
Danzaba la alegre niña
bajo la noche estrellada.
Cómo bailaba la niña,
cómo la niña bailaba.
The Cheerful Girl Dance (by Almudena Orellana Palomares)
The cheerful girl danced
on a starry night.
She moved to the sound of the air,
under the silver moon.
How the girl danced!
How the girl danced!
With eyes like two lighthouses
and thin embroidered eyelashes.
With a very white heart
and butterflies in the soul.
The cheerful girl was dancing
under the starry night.
How the girl danced,
how the girl danced.
5. Trenita Días
Treinta días
Treinta días trae septiembre
con abril junio y noviembre.
De veintiocho sólo hay uno.
Y los demás treinta y uno.
Thirty days
Thirty days brings September
with April June and November.
Of twenty-eight there is only one.
And the other thirty-one.
6. La semilla dorada (de Nilda Zamataro)
La semilla dorada (de Nilda Zamataro)
En su camita de tierra
descansaba la semilla dorada,
algunas gotitas de la lluvia
entraron a despertarla.
El sol se acercó un poquito
y le regaló su calor,
la semilla rompió su traje,
hizo fuerza y se estiró.
Se asomó muy curiosa
y el mundo descubrió.
Así la semilla dorada
en planta se convirtió.
The golden seed (by Nilda Zamataro)
On his dirt bed
the golden seed rested,
some droplets of rain
came to wake him up.
The sun came up a little
and gave him his warmth,
the seed broke his suit,
used his strength and stretched.
He peeked out curiously
and the world he discovered.
In this way the golden seed
a plant became.
7. Sista la serpiente
Sista la serpiente
Sista la serpiente
vive muy sonriente,
usa la sombrilla
cuando se sienta en la silla.
Sista the snake
Sista the snake
lives very smiling,
he uses the umbrella
when he sits in the chair.
8. Sana Sana
Sana Sana
Sana sana, colita de Rana,
si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana.
Heal Heal
Heal heal, Frog tail,
if you do not heal today, you will heal tomorrow.
9. Cinco lobitos
Cinco lobitos
Cinco lobitos tuvo una Loba,
blancos y negros tras de la escoba.
Cinco crió, cinco cuidó
y a todos ellos solita les enseñó
10. Five little cubs
Five little cubs
Five little wolves had a she-wolf,
black and white behind the broom.
Five she raised, five she nursed
And she taught them all on her own.
11. Tengo, tengo, tengo
Tengo, tengo, tengo
Tengo, tengo, tengo,
tú no tienes nada,
tengo tres ovejas en una cabaña.
Una me da leche,
otra me da lana,
otra me mantiene toda la semana.
Caballito blanco,
llévame de aquí,
llévame hasta el pueblo
donde yo nací.
I have, I have, I have
I have, I have, I have,
you have nothing,
I have three sheep in a cabin.
One gives me milk,
another gives me wool,
another keeps me all week.
Little withe horse,
take me from here,
Take me to the village
where I was born.
12. De-tín marín
De-tín marín
De-tín marín
de-dópin-güé
Cúcara mácara títere fue
Yo no fui,
fue Teté
Pégale, pégale que ella fue.
De-tín marín
De-tín marín
de-dópin-güé
Cúcara mácara títere fue
It wasn’t me,
It was Teté
Hit her, hit her, it was her.
As a child, we used to use this to make choices, in the same way that Eenie, meeny, miny mo is used in other countries. Find a version put to song here.
13. Paloma blanca
Paloma blanca
Paloma blanca,
piquito de oro,
que con tus alas volando vas,
pasas los montes, pasas los ríos,
pasas las olas del ancho mar.
White dove
Whiite dove,
gold piquito,
that with your flying wings you go,
You pass the mountains, you cross the rivers,
You pass the waves of the wide sea.
14. La mariposa
La mariposa
Está la mariposa
sentada en la cocina
haciendo chocolate
para la madrina.
Que salga la rosa
que salga el clavel
que salga esta niña
que está haciendo pastel.
The Butterfly
There is the butterfly
sitting in the kitchen
making chocolate
for the godmother.
Let the rose come out
let the carnation come out
let this little girl come out
who is making cake
15. El suspiro
El suspiro
En el medio de la selva
Se reía un colibrí
Y mientras tanto decía:
¡Cuando río soy feliz!
Allá en un lago profundo
Suspiraba una cigüeña
Y en el suspiro decía:
¡El que no duerme no sueña!
Justo en el medio del mar
Suspiraba una ballena
Y en el suspiro decía:
¡Quiero bananas con crema!
En un rincón de la pampa
Suspiraban dos caballos
Y en el suspiro decían:
¡Cómo nos duelen los callos!”
The sigh
In the middle of the jungle
A hummingbird laughed
And meanwhile he said:
When I laugh I’m happy!
There in a deep lake
A stork sighed
And in the sigh he said:
He who does not sleep does not dream!
Right in the middle of the sea
Sighed a whale
And in the sigh he said:
I want bananas with cream!
In a corner of the pampas
Two horses sighed
And in the sigh they said:
“How calluses hurt us! “
More Spanish Nursery Rhymes
You are half way through our list of Nursery Rhymes in Spanish! Continue for more Spanish nursery rhymes to enjoy with your kids!
16. Un elefante muy elegante
Un elefante muy elegante
Un elefante muy elefante
usa galera, bastón y guante.
Guante, guante, guante,
usa el elefante,
Guante, guante, guante,
usa el elefante,
(¡Aguante el elefante!)
A very elegant elephant
A very elegant elephant
he uses a carriage, baton and glove.
Glove, glove, glove,
uses the elephant.
Glove, glove, glove,
uses the elephant.
(Hang on to the elephant!)
Find this cute Spanish nursery rhyme here
17. La Ciudad de Pamplona
La ciudad de Pamplona
En la Ciudad de Pamplona,
hay una cuadra
en la cuadra una esquina,
en la esquina una casa,
en la casa una sala,
en la sala una mesa,
en la mesa una jaula,
y en la jaula una lora.
La lora en la mesa,
la mesa en la sala,
la sala en la casa,
la casa en la esquina,
la esquina en la cuadra,
la cuadra en la ciudad,
y la ciudad en Pamplona.
The city of Pamplona
In the City of Pamplona,
there is one block
in the block one corner,
in the corner a house,
in the house a room,
in the room a table,
on the table a cage,
and in the cage a parrot.
The parrot on the table,
the table in the room,
the room in the house,
the house on the corner,
the corner on the block,
the block in the city,
and the city in Pamplona.
18. La vaca Lola
La vaca Lola
La vaca lola, la vaca lola
tiene cabeza y tiene cola.
La vaca lola , la vaca lola
tiene cabeza y tiene cola
y hace muu
Lola the Cow
Lola the cow, Lola the cow
She has a head and has a tail
Lola the cow, Lola the cow
She has a head and has a tail
and says moo.
19. Debajo de un botón
Debajo de un botón
Debajo de un botón, ton, ton,
Que encontró Martín, tín, tín,
había un ratón, ton, ton
ay que chiquitín, tin, tin,
Ay que chiquitín, tin, tin,
era aquel ratón, ton, ton,
que encontró Martín, tin, tin,
debajo de un botón, ton, ton.
Under a Button
Under a button
that Martin found
there was a mouse
he was so little
How little
was the mouse
that Martin found
under a button
20. Pin Pon
Pin pon es un muñeco
muy guapo y de cartón
se lava la carita con agua y con jabón.
Pin pon siempre se peina
con peine de marfil
y aunque se hace tirones
no llora ni hace así.
Pin pon dame la mano
con un fuerte apretón
yo quiero ser tu amigo
pin pon pin pon pin pon.
Pin Pon
Pin pon is a very handsome
cardboard doll
He washes his face with water and soap.
Pin pon always combs
with an ivory comb
and even if he pulls hair
he does not cry.
Pin pon give me your hand
with a strong squeeze
I want to be your friend
pin pin pin pon pin pon.
This Spanish nursery rhyme is an old time favourite that your kids will love!
21. De colores, de colores
De colores, de colores
Se visten los campos en la primavera.
De colores, de colores
Son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera.
De colores, de colores
Es el arco iris que vemos lucir.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
De colores, de colores
Brillantes y finos se viste la aurora.
De colores, de colores
Son los mil reflejos que el sol atesora.
De colores, de colores
Se viste el diamante que vemos lucir.
Canta el gallo, canta el gallo
Con el quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri.
La gallina, la gallina
Con el cara, cara, cara, cara, cara.
Los pollitos/polluelos, los pollitos/polluelos
Con el pío, pío, pío, pío, pí.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Jubilosos, jubilosos
Vivamos en gracia puesto que se puede.
Saciaremos, saciaremos
La sed ardorosa del Rey que no muere.
Jubilosos, jubilosos
Llevemos a Cristo un alma y mil más.
Difundiendo la luz que ilumina
La gracia divina del gran ideal.
Difundiendo la luz que ilumina
La gracia divina del gran ideal.
De colores, de colores
Sí, de blanco y negro y rojo y azul y castaño.
Son colores, son colores
De gente que ríe, y estrecha la mano.
Son colores, son colores
De gente que sabe de la libertad.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
In colors, in colors
The fields are dressed in the spring.
In colors, in colors
Are the little birds that come from outside.
In colors, in colors
Is the rainbow that we see shining.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
In colors, in colors
Brilliant and delicate is dressed the dawn.
In colors, in colors
Are the thousand gleams the sun treasures.
In colors, in colors
Is dressed the diamond we see shining.
The rooster sings, the rooster sings
With a cock-a-doodle, cock-a-doodle-doo.
The hen, the hen
With a cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.
The chicks, the chicks
With a cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
Joyous, joyous
Let us live in grace since we can.
Let us quench, let us quench
The burning thirst of the King who does not die.
Joyous, joyous
Let us bring to Christ a soul and thousand more.
Spreading the light that illuminates
The divine grace from the great ideal.
Spreading the light that illuminates
The divine grace from the great ideal.
In colors, in colors
Yes, black and white and red and blue and brown.
All the colors, colors
From people laughing, and shaking hands.
All the colors, colors
From people who know freedom.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
This Beautiful Spanish song can be found online here.
22. Campana sobre campana
Campana sobre campana
Campana sobre campana,
Y sobre campana una,
Asómate a la ventana,
Verás al Niño en la cuna.
Belén, campanas de Belén,
Que los ángeles tocan
¿Qué nueva me traéis?
Recogido tu rebaño
¿A dónde vas pastorcillo?
Voy a llevar al portal
Requesón, manteca y vino.
Bell After Bell
Bell after bell,
And after bell, one!
Lean out the window
You’ll see the Child in his crib.
Bethlehem, bells of Bethlehem
That the angels ring
What news do you bring me?
Your flock is gathered,
Where are you going little shepherd?
I’m going to the stable to bring
Cottage cheese, lard and wine.
23. Mambrú se fue a la guerra
Mambrú se fue a la guerra
Mambrú se fue a la guerra
¡Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué pena!
Mambrú se fue a la guerra
No sé cuándo vendrá
Do re mi, do re fa
No sé cuándo vendrá.
Si vendrá por la Pascua
¡Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué gracia!
Si vendrá por la Pascua
O por la Trinidad
Do re mi, do re fa
O por la Trinidad.
La Trinidad se pasa
¡Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué guasa!
La Trinidad se pasa
Mambrú no viene ya
Do re mi, do re fa
Mambrú no viene ya
Me he subido a la torre
¡Qué dolor, qué dolor que corre!
Me he subido a la torre
Para ver si vendrá
Do re mi, do re fa
Para ver si vendrá.
Por allí viene un paje
¡Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué traje!
Por allí viene un paje
¿Qué noticias traerá?
Do re mi, do re fa
¿Qué noticias traerá?
Las noticias que traigo
¡Del dolor, del dolor me caigo!
Las noticias que traigo
Son tristes de contar
Do re mi, do re fa
Son tristes de contar.
Que Mambrú ya se ha muerto
¡Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué entuerto!
Que Mambrú ya se ha muerto
Lo llevan a enterrar
Do re mi, do re fa
Lo llevan a enterrar.*
En caja de terciopelo
¡Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué duelo!
En caja de terciopelo
Y tapa de cristal
Do re mi, do re fa
Y tapa de cristal.
Y detrás de la tumba
¡Qué dolor qué dolor, qué turba!
Y detrás de la tumba
Tres pajaritos van
Do re mi, do re fa
Tres pajaritos van.
Cantando el pío-pío
¡Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué trío!
Cantando el pío-pío
Cantando el pío-pá
Do re mi, do re fa
Cantando el pío-pá.
Mambru Went to War
Mambru went to war,
What grief, what grief, what sorrow,
Mambru went to war,
I don’t know when he’ll be back,
Do re mi, do re fa
I don’t know when he’ll be back.
If he’s back for Easter,
What grief, what grief, what a grace!
If he’s back for Easter
Or for Trinity Day,
Do re mi, do re fa
Or for Trinity Day.
Trinity Day is over
What grief, what grief, what a tease!
Trinity Day is over
Mambru doesn’t come
Do re mi, do re fa
Mambru doesn’t come.
I’ve gone upstairs into the tower
What grief, what grief, what continuous grief!
I’ve gone upstairs into the tower
To see if he’ll come
Do re mi, do re fa
To see if he’ll come.
Here comes a Page
What grief, what grief, what a suit!
Here comes a Page
What news will he bring?
Do re mi, do re fa
What news will he bring?
The news I’m bringing,
From the grief, from the grief I collapse
The news I’m bringing,
Is sad to tell
Do re mi, do re fa
Is sad to tell.
Mambru has died
What grief, what grief, how wrong!
Mambru has died
They take him to his grave
Do re mi, do re fa
They take him to his grave.
In a velvet coffin
What grief, what grief, what mourning!
In a velvet coffin
With a crystal lid
Do re mi, do re fa
With a crystal lid.
Behind his grave
What grief, what grief, what a mob!
Behind his grave
There are three little birds
Do re mi, do re fa
There are three little birds.
They’re singing cheep, cheep
What grief, what grief, what a trio!
They’re singing cheep, cheep
Singing cheep, chirp
Do re mi, do re fa
Singing cheep, chirp.
24. Estrellita
Estrellita
Estrellita donde estas?
me preguntó, quien serás?
en él cielo o en él mar
un diamante de verdad
cuando él sol se ah ido ya
cuando nada brilla mas
tu nos muestras tu brillar
brilla brilla sin parar!!
Twinkle Twinkle
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When this blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, through the night.
You’ve probably been singing this nursery rhyme since you were little yourself! We hope you enjoy this nursery rhyme in Spanish!
25. Yo tengo un castillo
Yo tengo un castillo
Yo tengo un castillo,
matarile, rile, rile.
Yo tengo un castillo,
matarile, rile, ron chimpón.
Dónde están las llaves,
matarile, rile, rile.
Dónde están las llaves,
matarile, rile, ron, chimpón.
En el fondo del mar,
matarile, rile, rile.
En el fondo del mar,
matarile, rile, ron, chimpón.
Quién irá a buscarlas,
matarile, rile, rile.
I have a Castle
I have a castle,
matarile, rile, rile.
I have a castle,
matarile, rile, ron chimpon.
Where are the keys?
matarile, rile, rile.
Where are the keys?
matarile, rile, ron, chimpón.
At the bottom of the sea,
matarile, rile, rile.
At the bottom of the sea,
matarile, rile, ron, chimpón
26. Mi Pelota
Mi Pelota
Mi pelota salta y bota,
Si se rompe, tengo otra.
Tengo un novio military
Que me sabe saludar.
My ball
My ball jumps and bounces,
If it breaks, I have another one.
I have a military boyfriend
That knows how to say hello.
27. Que llueva, que llueva
Que llueva, que llueva
Que llueva, que llueva
La Virgen de la Cueva
Los pajaritos cantan,
Las nubes se levantan.
¡Que sí, que no,
que caiga un chaparrón!
Que siga lloviendo,
Los pájaros corriendo
Florezca la pradera
Al sol de la primavera.
¡Que sí, que no,
que llueva a chaparrón,
que no me moje yo!
Let it Rain, Let it Rain
Let it rain, let it rain,
Virgin Mary of the Cave,
The little birds are singing,
The clouds rise up.
Oh yes, oh no,
Let there be a downpour!
Let it go on raining,
The birds go on running,
Let the meadow blossom
Under the spring sun.
Oh yes, oh no,
Let it rain cats and dogs,
But let me not get wet!
One of my personal favorites, you can watch and sing this Spanish nursery rhyme in the form of song.
28. Cinco ratoncitos
Cinco ratoncitos
Cinco ratoncitos
de colita gris
mueven las orejas,
mueven la naríz.
¡Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco,
corren al rincón!
Porque viene el gato,
a comer ratón.
Five Little Mice
Five little mice
with little gray tails
move their ears,
move their noses.
One, two, three, four, five,
they run to the corner!
Because the cat is coming
to eat mouse!
Nursery Rhymes in Spanish for Kids!
Which one of these is your favorite Spanish nursery rhyme? Do you have other favorite Nursery Rhymes in Spanish that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you!
Want to teach your child Spanish? Make sure to check out our FREE Learn Spanish for Kids series with printable posters, activities, and resources for kids to learn Spanish. Also make sure to join our community group for parents raising bilingual kids with Spanish!
If you are looking for Nursery Rhymes in other language make sure to check out our Nursery Rhymes in English, Nursery Rhymes in French and Nursery Rhymes in Chinese.
Author: Keli Garcia Allen is a certified Spanish teacher working in a bilingual classroom. She is the Head of Content for Learn Safari and is currently working on Spanish Safari, a Spanish Learning game for children 4-10 years old. You can follow her and the rest of the team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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