Counting and learning
Cinco lobitos tiene la loba
The classic Spanish hand game: your hand is the mother wolf and your five fingers are her cubs, who jump, turn and dance through the forest with their mom. For counting from one to five.
Lyrics in Spanish with English translation
The English meaning is under each line.
Cinco lobitosFive little wolf cubstiene la loba,the mother wolf has,cinco lobitosfive little wolf cubsdetrás de una escoba.behind a broom.Cinco tenía,Five she had,cinco criaba,five she raised,y a todos los cincoand to all fivelechita les daba.she gave a little milk.
Uno da un salto,One gives a jump,dos vienen detrás,two come behind,tres dan la vuelta,three turn around,cuatro al compás.four to the beat.Llega el quinto,The fifth one arrives,se pone a bailar,starts to dance,mamá los reúne,mom gathers them together,¡vamos a cantar!let’s sing!
Cinco lobitosFive little wolf cubstiene la loba,the mother wolf has,cinco lobitosfive little wolf cubsdetrás de una escoba.behind a broom.
Salen al bosqueThey go out to the forestpara pasear,for a walk,ven mariposasthey see butterfliesque quieren volar.that want to fly.Mueven las patas,They move their paws,vuelven a saltar,they jump again,y con su mamáand with their momse ponen a bailar.they start to dance.
Cinco lobitosFive little wolf cubstiene la loba,the mother wolf has,cinco lobitosfive little wolf cubsdetrás de una escoba.behind a broom.Cinco tenía,Five she had,cinco criaba,five she raised,y a todos los cincoand to all fivelechita les daba.she gave a little milk.
Los cinco lobitosThe five little wolf cubsregresan al hogar,go back home,mamá los abraza,mom hugs them,¡mañana a jugar!tomorrow we play!
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How to say it
Spanish vowels are short and clear: a (ah), e (eh), i (ee), o (oh), u (oo). Capital letters mark the stressed syllable.
- cinco lobitos
- SEEN-koh loh-BEE-tohs · five little wolf cubs
- la loba
- lah LOH-bah · the mother wolf
- escoba
- ehs-KOH-bah · broom
- lechita
- leh-CHEE-tah · a little milk
- un salto
- oon SAHL-toh · a jump
- mariposas
- mah-ree-POH-sahs · butterflies
Off-screen
Sing it with actions
- Your open hand is the mother wolf and your five fingers are her cubs. On «cinco lobitos tiene la loba» (“the mother wolf has five little cubs”), turn your hand slowly.
- On «detrás de una escoba» (“behind a broom”), hide your hand behind your back… and bring it out again!
- On «Uno da un salto, dos vienen detrás…» (“One gives a jump, two come behind…”), raise one finger for each number and do what the song says: a jump, a turn and a dance to the beat.
- In the forest, flap your arms like butterflies and hop along with the cubs.
- At the end, when the cubs go back home, give a big hug like mother wolf’s!
- Singing together:
- Count slowly on your fingers and pause before each number so your child can say it: «uno», «dos», «tres» (“one, two, three”)…
- Good for practicing:
- Counting from 1 to 5 on the fingers, moving hands and fingers, and following directions: jumping, turning and dancing.
All the lyrics in the songbookLesson plan for the classroomMore songs with actions