In this post: Discover 15 authentic Spanish lullabies that Latina mamás sing to their little ones.
One of the ways that Latina mamás show our love for our little ones is to sing them canciones de cuna, sometimes called nanas, or lullabies – the same Spanish lullabies that our mamás and abuelas sang to us when we were pequeñitos!
Today, we’re sharing 15 of these authentic Spanish lullabies with lyrics included so you and your children can sing along.
Table of Contents
How Spanish Lullabies Have Been Passed Down for Generations
Many of the best-known Spanish lullabies sung across Latin America are variations of traditional songs brought over from Spain and passed down through generations.
Often, the same melody appears with different lyrics, as in Arrorró mi niño, Duérmete mi niño, and Señora Santana. Another beloved example is A la Nanita Nana, sometimes sung as Ea la Nana. Many of us remember our mamás and abuelas blending these variations as they rocked us—or our own children—to sleep.
Where Do Traditional Spanish Lullabies Come From?
While most canciones de cuna in Latin America trace their roots to Spain, some are unique to specific cultures and regions. One example is the Afro-Cuban lullaby Drume Negrita, sung in the Lucumí dialect, which reflects the language and history of Cuba’s formerly enslaved people.
Other lullabies are Spanish adaptations of English songs, like Estrellita ¿dónde estás?, or are set to universal melodies, such as Duerme bien, based on Brahms’ lullaby.
Why It’s Important to Sing Spanish Lullabies to Your Bilingual Baby
Passing down Spanish lullabies is especially meaningful for bilingual families. These songs carry generations of history, love, and cultural identity, and are deeply connected to feelings of home, familia, and comfort.
In this way, Spanish lullabies remain a living part of Hispanic oral tradition, continuing to nurture children even after being several generations removed from their roots.
Related post: Latin American and Spanish Folktales for Kids
Top 15 Traditional Spanish Lullabies
We’ve put together a list of our favorite Spanish lullabies, with links to videos, as well as lyrics and their English translations.
Arrorró mi niño
Find this song in our Level 1 Curriculum, Unit 7: Family (La familia).
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Arrorró mi niño, Arrorró mi sol, Arrorró pedazo de mi corazón. Este niño lindo se quiere dormir y el pícaro sueño no quiere venir. Este lindo niño que nació de noche quiere que le lleven a pasear en coche. Este lindo niño Ya quiere dormir Háganle la cuna De rosa y jazmín. | Hushabye my baby Hushabye my sunshine Hushabye little piece of my heart. This sweet child wants to go to sleep, And the sneaky dream just doesn’t want to come. This sweet child that was born at night Wants you to take him for a walk in the stroller. This sweet child finally wants to sleep. Make him a cradle of roses and jasmine. |
A dormir va la rosa
Find this song in our Level 2 Curriculum, Unit 3: Growing Together (Creciendo juntos).
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| A dormir va la rosa De los rosales. A dormir va mi niño Porque ya es tarde. Mi niños se va a dormir Con los ojitos cerrados. Cómo duermen los jilgueros Encima de los tejados. | The rose goes to sleep On the rosebush. My child goes to sleep Because it’s already late. My child is going to sleep With eyes closed. Like the goldfinches sleep On the rooftops. |
Señora Santa Ana
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Señora Santa Ana ¿Por qué llora el niño? Por una manzana que se le ha perdido Yo le daré una Yo le daré dos Una para el niño Y otra para vos Yo no quiero una Yo no quiero dos Yo quiero la mía Que se me perdió Yo le daré una Yo le daré dos Una para el niño Y otra para vos | Mrs. Santana Why is the baby crying? Because of an apple that he has lost I will give him one I will give him two One for the baby And one for you I don’t want one I don’t want two I want mine That I lost I will give him one I will give him two One for the baby And one for you |
La Lechuza
Find this song in our Level 1 Curriculum, Unit 3: The Forest (El bosque).
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| La lechuza la lechuza Hace shhh, hace shhh Todos calladitos como la lechuza Hacen shhh hacen shhh | The owl, the owl Says shhh, says shhh All quiet like the owl Saying shhh saying shhh |
Calla Pequeño
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Duerme pequeño No tengas temor Mamá te va a buscar Un ruiseñor Si su canto no te suena plasentero Mamá te comprara un sonajero Y si el sonajero no suena bien Mamá te mecera en un va y ven. Y si te cansas en esta occasión Mamá te va a buscar un acordeón Cuando el acordeón ya no se escuche Papá traerá un perrito de peluche Y si el perrito no sabe ladrar Un carro y un chupete te va a comprar Y si no quieres carro ni el chupete Papá te traerá un lindo juguete Duermete pequeño no tengas temor Mamá te canta una nana con amor A la rorro niño a la rorro ya | Hush little baby Don’t be afraid Mama’s going to find you A Mockingbird If its song does not sound nice Mama’s going to buy you a wind chime And if the wind chime doesn’t sound nice Mama’s going to rock you back and forth And if you get tired on that occasion Mama’s going to find you an accordion When the accordion can no longer be heard Daddy will bring a stuffed dog And if the dog doesn’t know how to bark A car and a pacifier he’ll buy for you And if you don’t want a car or a pacifier Daddy will bring you a nice toy Sleep little baby don’t be afraid Mama’s singing you a lullaby with love Sleep now baby, sleep now |
Drume Negrita
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| En su cuna ya no pué dormí La negrita Lucumí… Mamá a la negrita Se le salen los pies de la cunita Y la Negra Mercé Ya no sabe que hacé… Tú drume negrita Que yo va a comprá nueva cunita Que tenga capité Y también cascabél Si te drumes yo te voy a comprar Un melon bien colorao Si no drumes yo te traigo un babalao Que da pau pau Tú drume negrita… | In her bed she can no longer sleep The little black Lucumí baby Sleep my black baby girl And I will buy for you a new crib That will have a canopy and also a bell If you sleep, I will bring you a very redmelon If you don’t sleep, I will bring a babalao That will spank you |
A la Nanita Nana
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella Mi niño tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella Mi niño tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea. Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora Ruiseñor que en la selva cantando llora Calla mientras la cuna se balancea A la nanita nana, nanita ella | Oh, lullaby lullaby, that lullaby, that lullaby My baby is feeling sleepy, blessed be, blessed be Oh, lullaby lullaby, that lullaby, that lullaby. Stream that flows clear and loud Mockingbird that in the jungle cries with his song Hush while the cradle rocks Oh, lullaby lullaby, that lullaby, that lullaby |
Ea la Nana
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Pajarito que cantas en la laguna No despiertes al niño que está en la cuna Ea la nana, ea la nana Duérmete lucerito de la mañana A dormir va la rosa de los rosales A dormir va mi niño por que ya es tarde Ea la nana, ea la nana Duérmete lucerito de la mañana Pajarito que cantas junto a la fuente Cállate que mi niño no se despierte Ea la nana, ea la nana Duérmete lucerito de la mañana | Little bird that sings in the lagoon Don’t awaken the baby that’s in the crib Oh, the lullaby Oh, the lullaby Sleep little morning star The rose of the rose garden is going to sleep My baby is going to sleep because it’s late Oh, the lullaby Oh, the lullaby Sleep little morning star Little bird that sings in the spring Hush so that my baby will not wake up. Oh, the lullaby Oh, the lullaby Sleep little morning star |
Los Pollitos
There are many lively versions of this classic Spanish nursery rhyme. This is ours, included in our Level 1 Llamitas Spanish Curriculum for Unit 2: La granja (farm).
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Los pollitos dicen Pío, pío, pío Cuando tienen hambre Cuando tienen frío La Gallina busca El maíz y el trigo Les da la comida Y les presta abrigo Bajo sus dos alas Acurrucaditos Hasta el otro día Duermen los pollitos | The little chicks say pío pío pío When they’re hungry When they’re cold The Hen finds Corn and wheat Gives them their food And keeps them warm Beneath her two wings Snuggled up Until the next day The little chicks sleep |
Estrellita ¿dónde estás?
Familiar favorite “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in Spanish makes a great addition to any bedtime routine. This song is included in our Llamitas Spanish Level 1 Curriculum, for our Unit 12: Space.
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Estrellita ¿dónde estás? Me pregunto qué serás En cielo y en el mar un diamante de verdad Estrellita ¿dónde estás? Me pregunto qué serás | Little Star, where are you? I ask myself what you are In the sky and in the sea A real diamond Little Star, where are you? I ask myself what you are |
Pin Pon
The well known cardboard doll! A loved figure in the Hispanic culture, and included in our Llamitas Spanish Level 2 Curriculum, in Unit 1: La rutina diaria (Daily Routine).
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Pin Pon es un muñeco muy guapo y de cartón Se lava su carita con agua y con jabón. Se desenreda el pelo con peine de marfil y aunque no le gusta no llora ni hace así Pin Pon dame la mano con un fuerte apretón quiero ser tu amigo Pin Pon, Pin Pon, Pin Pon. Y cuando las estrellas comienzan a salir Pin Pon se va a la cama y se acuesta a dormir | Pin Pon is a handsome doll Made out of cardboard He washes his little face With water and soap. Pin Pon detangles his hair With an ivory comb And even though he doesn’t like it He doesn’t cry or make a fuss. Pin Pon give me your hand With a tight squeeze I want to be your friend Pin Pon, Pin Pon, Pin Pon. And when the stars Start to come out Pin Pon goes to bed And goes to sleep |
Duerme ya Dulce Bien
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Duerme ya, dulce bien Mi capullo de nardo. Despacito duermete como la abeja en la flor. Duerme ya, dulce bien Duerme ya, dulce amor Dulces sueños tendrás al oir mi canción. | Go to sleep, my sweet love My tuberose bud Sleep slowly Like the bee in the flower. Go to sleep, my sweet love Go to sleep, my sweet love Sweet dreams you’ll have Upon hearing my song. |
El gato y el violin
This Spanish version of “Hey Diddle Diddle” has slightly different lyrics in order to rhyme:
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Tirintintín el gato y el violin La vaca la luna saltó El perrito rió cuando la vio Y la cuchara con el plato huyó | Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle The cow jumped over the moon The little dog laughed when he saw it And the spoon ran away with the plate. |
Rema rema rema tu BOTe
Your kids will have fun singing along to this classic nursery rhyme in Spanish, included in our Level 1 curriculum, Unit 10: El transporte:
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Rema rema rema tu bote Suave por la corriente Alegre alegre alegre alegre La vida es un sueño. | Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream. |
Tengo una muñeca vestida de azul
Find this song in our Level 2 Curriculum, Unit 3: Growing Together (Creciendo juntos).
| Spanish Lyrics | English Translation |
| Tengo una muñeca vestida de azul Zapaticos blancos delantal de tul La lleve a paseo y se me constipo La tengo en la cama con mucho dolor Esta mañanita me dijo el doctor Que le dé jarabe con un tenedor | I have a doll dressed in blue White shoes, apron made of tulle I took her out and she got sick I have her in bed with a lot of pain This morning the doctor told me To give her syrup with a spoon |
More Spanish Resources for Babies and Toddlers
For parents that want to provide comprehensive Spanish education at home, your best bet is to begin with our Llamitas Spanish Curriculum.
Rooted in the Hispanic culture, it has a range of beautiful and authentic children’s songs, including lullabies such as Arrorró mi niño (Family unit), La lechuza (Forest unit), Rema, rema, rema tu bote (Transport unit) and Estrellita ¿dónde estás? (Space unit). Los Pollitos is also included in our collection of canciones infantiles (children’s songs).
To further enhance your child’s Spanish education, check out our blog filled with plenty of Spanish language resources for babies and toddlers.
You’ll also love our other music related posts to help your child incorporate their use of Spanish songs into their everyday life!
Related posts:
Canciones ilustradas: Gentle Spanish Songs for Kids
Musical Spanish Books for Toddlers
Maya is an artist and freelance writer from Cuba who has worked in Art Education, Language Education, Simultaneous Interpretation, Subtitling, and Literary Translations. She is also a Mom and Abuela, committed to providing resources for homeschooling parents (such as her own daughter!) and to all who value the conservation of her beautiful, native Spanish language.