Learn to count numbers 0 to 10 in Spanish by singing along to this Spanish Numbers song which also provides useful practice learning to pronounce Spanish letters V, H, C + RRs: 0 zero = cero 1 un, uno, una = one 2 dos = two 3 tres = three 4 cuatro = four 5 cinco = five 6 seis = six 7 siete = seven 8 ocho = eight 9 nueve = nine 10 diez = ten
– Hasta. = up to/until
‘H’s are silent in Spanish
– CachoRRo = puppy:
Roll your Spanish double ‘RR’s!
The letter C in Spanish:
C in Cuatro (4) sounds like the C in ‘Cat’.
C in Cero (0) sounds like ‘th’ or ‘S’ because it is in front of an ‘i’ or an ‘e’:
0 – 10 = Cero hasta diez 0 – 10 = Cero hasta diez Diez = 10! Z in Spanish sounds like ‘th’ or ‘s’.
Otra vez = again
‘Vs sound like ‘Bs’ in Spanish
Listen to the V in ‘Otra Vez’ and join in!
Había una vez = Once upon a time there was …
Spanish Song for children in the Imperfect Tense about a little puppy that wanted to escape and explore … Había = there was Había una vez = Once upon a time there was … Había una vez un perrito chiquitito
Once upon a time there was a little puppy
Un Perrito Chiquitito is sung to the tune of the traditional Spanish children’s song: El Barquito Chiquitito
Modal Verbs, 3rd person, Imperfect Tense: no sabía – it didn’t know no podía – it couldn’t no debía – it was not supposed to …
Modal verbs need a 2nd verb in the infinitive: escapar = to escape: No sabía escapar – it didn’t know how to escape No podía escapar – it couldn’t escape No debía escapar – it wasn’t supposed to escape
The story ends in the perfect tense.
LYRICS + GUITAR CHORDS:
A E A Había una vez . E A un perrito chiquitito,
(There was once a little puppy) x2 A E A Había una vez . E A un perrito chiquitito,
. D Que no sabía,
That didn’t know how to,
. A que no podía,
that couldn’t,
. E A que no debía escapar.
that wasn’t supposed to escape.
Hold up your hands and count to 6 on your fingers whilst singing:
. A E A Pasaron un, dos, tres, . E A cuatro, cinco, seis semanas
1 2 3 4 5 6 weeks went by(x2)
. AE A Pasaron un, dos, tres, . E A cuatro, cinco, seis semanas …
. D Y aquel perrito, . A y aquel perrito, . E A y aquel perrito escapó.
(And that little puppy,
and that little puppy,
and that little puppy escaped.)
Repeat!
For more practice using Spanish Modal Verbs in the context of scoring goals on a Playstation this time, go to: Modal Verbs in Spanish
Learn to sing and play Cielito Lindo.
Lyrics, easy Guitar Chords, Video Clip + Spanish/English Translation.
Cielito Lindo is a Mexican folksong in triple time (3 beats in the bar).
It is in the shape of a ‘Seguidilla’.
The tune lends itself to being sung to different words.
For example, how about beginning a verse with: G “Somos los estudiantes de ……………………….. D7 la clase de don/doña ……..”
What next? Be inventive, be nice, and make sure the words fit in with the tune … Cielito Lindo means ‘pretty little sky’, used as a lovely nickname for a beautiful girl in the song.
Video
Lyrics + Guitar Chords:
Refrain: G ……….. C
Ay, ay, ay, ay, D7 ……….. G
Canta y no llores, ……………………… D7
Porque cantando se alegran, ……………………… G
Cielito Lindo, los corazones.
Verse 1 G
De la Sierra Morena, ………………………. D7
Cielito Lindo, vienen bajando,
un par de ojitos negros, ………………………… G
Cielito Lindo, de contrabando.
Verse 2 G
Ese lunar que tienes, ………………………. D7
Cielito Lindo, junto a la boca,
No se lo des a nadie, ………………………… . G
Cielito Lindo, que a mí me toca.
Verse 3 G
Una flecha en el aire, ………………………. D7
Cielito Lindo, lanzó Cupido,
si la tiró jugando, ……………………………. G
Cielito Lindo, a mí me ha herido.
– – –
English Translation
It is not a literal (word for word) translation.
Sing Parts of the Body in Spanish. Juan Pequeño Baila = Little John Dances Juan Pequeño Baila is a Spanish Action Song for children to join in with to learn and pronounce the names of parts of the body in Spanish. Actions:
Point to each body part as you sing its name.
Video
Start by singing: Juan pequeño baila,
baila, baila, baila.
Juan pequeño baila,
baila con …
Now add a body part: … el dedo Con el dedo, dedo, dedo, así baila Juan pequeño.
Translation:
Little John dances,
dances, dances, dances.
Little John dances,
dances with … (the) his finger.
With his finger, finger, finger,
that’s how little John dances. (Note: The Spanish use THE but in English ‘ownership’ of the body part is included = His/her/its finger)
Repeat the song adding a new body part to the list each time:
Juan Pequeño baila, baila, baila, baila. Juan Pequeño baila, baila con …
El dedo the finger La mano the hand El codo the elbow El hombro the shoulder La cabeza the head El culo the bottom La rodilla the knee El pie the foot
This is the complete rendition of the song:
Juan pequeño baila,
baila, baila, baila.
Juan pequeño baila,
baila con el dedo.
Con el dedo, dedo, dedo,
Con la mano, mano, mano,
Con el codo, codo, codo,
Con el hombro, hombro, hombro,
Con la cabeza, cabeza, cabeza,
Con el culo, culo, culo,
Con la rodilla, rodilla, rodilla,
Con el pie, pie, pie
¡Así baila Juan Pequeño!
Gentle Spanish nursery rhyme for children to sing and join in with. Watch the Video clip. Learn the lyrics and actions, and there are easy guitar chords on the worksheet.
Había una vez = Once upon a time (There was once …) Había una vez un barquito chiquitito.
Once upon a time there was a little boat.
