13 Italian Nursery Rhymes With Illustrations And English Translations

Ah, nursery rhymes! The backbone of every childhood. The never-ending repetition. The simple melodies. The absurd lyrics. What’s not to love?

Every culture and language has them, and they’re a great way to introduce kids to new concepts – whether it’s learning to count, or expanding their vocabulary. And as someone learning Italian, you can use Italian nursery rhymes in much the same way – to familiarize yourself with the language, and to have a bit of fun while you’re at it.

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With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of 13 popular Italian nursery rhymes, complete with English translations and wacky illustrations. So pull up a chair, grab a cup of espresso (or limoncello, we won’t judge), and let’s get started!

 

Anghingò

Italian	English
Anghingò Tre galline e tre capò Per andare alla cappella C’era una ragazza bella Che suonava il ventitré Uno due tre.	Anghingò, Three chicks and three roosters To go to the chapel There was a beautiful girl Who played the twenty-three One, two, three.

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Girotondo (Round and round)

This is the Italian version of the famous “Ring a Ring o’ Roses”.

Italian	English
Giro giro tondo Casca il mondo Casca la Terra Tutti giù per terra	Round and round The world falls down The Earth falls down Everyone falls down

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Bolli bolli pentolino (Boil, boil, little pot)

Italian	English
Bolli bolli pentolino, fa la pappa al mio bambino; la rimescola la mamma mentre il bimbo fa la nanna; fa la nanna gioia mia o la pappa scappa via.	Boil, boil, little pot Make some food for my child; Stir it around, Mama While the child sleeps; Sleep tight, my joy Or the food will run away.

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Capra capretta (Goat, little goat)

Italian	English
Capra, capretta, che bruchi tra l’erbetta, vuoi una manciatina di sale da cucina? Il sale é salato, il bimbo é nel prato, la mamma é alla fonte, il sole é sul monte, sul monte é l’erbetta, capra, capretta!	Goat, little goat, that grazes in the grass, do you want a pinch of kitchen salt? The salt is salty, the child is in the meadow, the mother is by the spring, the sun is on the mountain, on the mountain is the grass, Goat, little goat!

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Ambarabà ciccì coccò

Italian	English
Ambarabà ciccì coccò tre civette sul comò che facevano l’amore con la figlia del dottore. Il dottore si ammalò… ambarabà ciccì coccò.	Ambarabà ciccì coccò three owls on the dresser that were making love with the doctor’s daughter. The doctor got sick… ambarabà ciccì coccò.

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Farfallina (Butterfly)

Italian	English
Farfallina Bella e bianca vola vola mai si stanca gira qua e gira la poi si resta sopra un fiore e poi si resta spora un fiore. Ecco ecco a trovata bianca e rosa colorata gira qua e gira la poi si resta sopra un fiore e poi si resta spora un fiore.	Butterfly Pretty and white Flying flying Never gets tired Spins around here And spins around there Then it stays on top of a flower And then it stays on top of a flower. Look look I found it White and pink Colored Spins around here And spins around there Then it stays on top of a flower And then it stays on top of a flower.

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L’inverno se n’è andato (Winter has gone)

Italian

English

L’inverno se n’è andato l’aprile non c’è più è ritornato maggio al canto del cucù. Ritornello: Cucù, cucù L’aprile non c’è più È ritornato il maggio Al canto del cucù. Lassù per le montagne La neve non c’è più Comincia a fare il nido Il povero cucù. (Ritornello) La bella alla finestra La guarda in su e in giù Aspetta il fidanzato Al canto del cucù. (Ritornello) Sul monte c’era un bimbo Portava a pascolar Un piccolo agnellino Che sol sapea belar. (Ritornello) Un fioccolo di lana Llascio per lui lassù E presto è diventato Il nido del cucù. (Ritornello) Te l’ho pur sempre detto Che maggio ha la virtù Di far sentir l’amore Al canto del cucù. (Ritornello)

Winter has gone away April is no longer here May has come back To the cuckoo’s song. Chorus: Cuckoo, cuckoo April is no longer here May has come back To the cuckoo’s song. Up in the mountains The snow is no longer here, The poor cuckoo starts to make its nest. (Chorus) The beautiful girl at the window Is looking up and down Waiting for her betrothed To the cuckoo’s song. (Chorus) There was a boy on a mountain peak Taking his small lamb to pasture, Which only knew how to bleat. (Chorus) A piece of wool He left up there for it And soon it became The cuckoo’s nest. (Chorus) I’ve always told you That May has the virtue Of making people feel love At the cuckoo’s song. (Chorus)

Nella vecchia fattoria (On the old farm)

This is the Italian version of “Old McDonald had a Farm”.

Italian

English

Nella vecchia fattoria, ia-ia-o Quante bestie ha zio Tobia, ia-ia-o C’e il cane (bau!) cane (bau!) ca-ca-cane, cane (bau!) Quante bestie ha zio Tobia, ia-ia-o Nella vecchia fattoria, ia-ia-o Quante bestie ha zio Tobia, ia-ia-o E il gatto (miao!) gatto (miao!) ga-ga-gatto, gatto (miao!) Quante bestie ha zio Tobia, ia-ia-o Nella vecchia fattoria, ia-ia-o Quante bestie ha zio Tobia, ia-ia-o E la muca (muu!) muca (muu!) mu-mu-muca, muca (muu!) Quante bestie ha zio Tobia, ia-ia-o.

On the old farm, e-i-e-i-o How many animals has Uncle Tobias, e-i-e-i-o There’s the dog (woof!) Dog (woof!) D-d-dog, dog (woof!) How many animals has Uncle Tobias, e-i-e-i-o. On the old farm, e-i-e-i-o How many animals has Uncle Tobias, e-i-e-i-o And the cat (meow!) Cat (meow!) C-c-cat, cat (meow!) How many animals has Uncle Tobias, e-i-e-i-o. On the old farm, e-i-e-i-o How many animals has Uncle Tobias, e-i-e-i-o And the cow (moo!) Cow (moo!) C-c-cow, cow (moo!) How many animals has Uncle Tobias, e-i-e-i-o.

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Seta moneta (Silk coin)

Italian	English
Seta moneta, Le donne di Gaeta, Che filano la seta, La seta e la Cambagia; Giovanni che mi piace, Mi piace Giovanni, Che fa cantare i galli, Li galli e le galline, Con tutti li pulcini. Guardo nel pozzo Che c’è un gallo rosso. Guarda in quell’ altro, Che c’è un gallo bianco. Guarda sul letto, Che c’è un bel confetto. Guarda lassù, Che c’è un cuccurucù.	Silk coin, The women of Gaeta, Who spin silk, Silk and wool; John, whom I like, I like John, Who makes the roosters crow, The roosters and the hens, With all the chicks. I look in the well And there’s a red rooster. Look in that other one, And there’s a white rooster. Look on the bed, And there’s some pretty candy. Look up high, And there’s a cock-a-doodle-doo.

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Centocinquanta (One hundred and fifty)

Italian	English
Centocinquanta la pecora canta canta il gallo risponde la gallina Madama Colombina s’affaccia alla finestra con tre colombe in testa Passan tre fanti su tre cavalli bianchi: bianca la sella, bianca la donzella, addio mammina bella.	One hundred and fifty the sheep is singing the rooster is singing the hen is answering Madame Colombine is looking out the window with three doves on her head Three soldiers go by on three white horses: white, the saddle, white, the maiden, Goodbye, dear mother.

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Un elefante si dondolava (One elephant was swinging)

Italian	English
Un elefante si dondolava sopra il filo di una ragnatela, e ritenendo la cosa interessante andò a chiamare un altro elefante. Due elefanti si dondolavano sopra il filo di una ragnatela e ritenendo la cosa interessante andarono a chiamare un altro elefante. Tre elefanti si dondolavano sopra il filo di una ragnatela e ritenendo la cosa interessante andarono a chiamare un altro elefante.	One elephant was swinging On the thread of a spider’s web, And finding it interesting, He called another elephant. Two elephants were swinging On the thread of a spider’s web, And finding it interesting, They called another elephant. Three elephants were swinging On the thread of a spider’s web, And finding it interesting, They called another elephant.

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Stella, stellina (Star, little star)

Not quite “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”, but as close to it as Italian gets.

Italian	English
Stella, stellina, La notte si avvicina. La fiamma traballa. La mucca nella stalla. La mucca e il vitello, La pecora e l’agnello, La chioccia con il pulcino, Ognuno ha il suo bambino, Ognuno ha la sua mamma, E tutti fanno la nanna!	Star, little star, The night is drawing near. The flame is flickering. The cow in the barn. The cow and the calf, The sheep and the lamb, The hen with her chick, Each one has its child, Each one has its mother, And they all go to bed!

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Maria lavava (Mary was doing the washing)

Italian	English
Maria lavava, Giuseppe stendeva, Il figlio piangeva dal freddo che aveva. Stai zitto mio figlio, che adesso ti piglio: il latte t’ho dato, il pane non c’è. La neve sui monti cadeva dal cielo, Maria col suo velo copriva Gesù.	Mary was doing the washing, Joseph was hanging out laundry, their son was crying from the cold. “Hush now my son, I’ll pick you up, I’ve given you milk, but there’s no bread.” Snow from the sky was falling on the mountains, Mary with her veil covered Jesus.

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Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoyed this list of Italian nursery rhymes. If you’re interested in reading some more popular Italian content, head on over to our post Funny Italian Proverbs, Quotes, and Sayings.

Or, if you’re looking for some Italian movies to watch, check out The Best Italian-Language Movies to Watch on Netflix.

Arrivederci!