Nursery rhymes are anonymous creations of Brazilian folklore, transmitted orally from generation to generation. They capture the essence of popular culture, weaving a web of connections between grandparents, parents, and children through playful and continuous learning.

But make no mistake: nursery rhymes go far beyond mere entertainment. They play a crucial role in child development, enhancing memorization, strengthening communication, fostering socialization, and even stimulating children's logical thinking. Whether in circle games, games, "who goes first?" decisions, bedtime stories, or simply for fun, nursery rhymes permeate our daily lives in often imperceptible ways.

Brazilian Nursery Rhymes.
Brazilian Nursery Rhymes.

In this post, we'll dive into the fascinating universe of nursery rhymes, exploring their origins, characteristics, and the positive impact they have on children's growth and learning. Get ready for a journey of rediscovery and, who knows, maybe learn new rhymes to share with the children in your life!

  1. Are you cold?Take a bath in the riverAre you hot?Take a shower with a watering can
  2. I went to the fairFound an owl thereStepped on its tailIt called me dirty face
  3. Rain, it rainedDroplets drippedAsk the one with the goiterIf his chin got wet
  4. Battalion, lion, lion,Who doesn't join is a fool
  5. Pineapple, ple, pleWho doesn't leave is a SaciBeetroot, root, root,Who makes a mistake is a devilButterfly, fly, fly,Who makes a mistake is a demon
  6. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,Salamey, mingy,A colorful ice cream cone,You're the chosen one!
  7. Icy juiceHair standing upWhat's the letterOf your sweetheart?
  8. The Parrot eats corn,The Parakeet gets the fameSome sing and others crySuch is the sad fate of those who love
  9. Those who whisper,Their tail stretchesEat breadWith a lizard
  10. Saw, saw, sawyerHow many boards have you sawed?
  11. One, two, three, fourUna,Duna,Tena,Catena,Sola,Solada,Gurupim,Gurupa,Count well,That makes ten
  12. Little Mary's grandmaMade pee-pee in the potAnd told everyoneIt was chicken brothA flea on the scaleTook a leap and went to France
  13. The horses running,The children playing,Let's see who'll catch who
  14. I climbed the rosebush,A branch brokeHold on (child's name)Or I'll fall
  15. Today is Sunday, ask for a pipeThe pipe is made of clay, put it in the jarThe jar is fine, ring the bellThe bell is golden, charge the bullThe bull is brave, charges usWe are weak, fall in the holeThe hole is deep, the world is over!
  16. King, captain,Soldier, thiefPretty girlOf my heart
  17. There was a witchAt midnightIn a haunted castleWith a knife in handSpreading butter on bread
  18. Tick-tockStar fruitThis one inThis one out
  19. When little potato sproutsIt spreads on the groundWhen little girl sleepsShe puts her hand on her heart
  20. I was crossing the little bridge,My sandal fell from my footThe little fish complained:What a stinky foot!
  21. Noon time,Monkey whistles,Pot on the fire,Empty belly
  22. Bong, babalom,Mister CaptainSword on belt,Horse in handIn Moorish landYour brother died,Cooked and roastedIn his cauldron
  23. The monkey went to the fairHad nothing to buyBought a chairFor godmother to sitThe chair collapsedPoor godmotherEnded up in the hallway
  24. Who goes to the air,Loses their placeWho goes to the wind,Loses their seatWho goes to the bank,Loses their chair
  25. Grandma's little houseWoven with vines;If coffee is taking longIt's surely out of grounds
  26. John cuts the bread,Mary stirs the cornmeal,Teresa sets the table,For the Armadillo's feast
  27. Up on the pianoThere's a cup of poisonWho drank it, died,That was your bad luck
  28. I stepped on a little stone,The little stone rolledI winked at the boy,The boy liked itI told mommyMommy didn't careI told daddy,The slipper went flying
  29. Broody hen,Ate an earthworm,Started jumping,Like popcorn
  30. H, h,The chicken wants to layIj, ij,My mother gave me a beating I ended up in TietêHello, hello,The rooster has crowed
  31. Where's the bacon that was here?The cat ate itWhere's the cat?Went to the bushWhere's the bush?The fire burned itWhere's the fire?The water put it outWhere's the water?The ox drank itWhere's the ox?Went to carry wheatWhere's the wheat?The chicken scattered itWhere's the chicken?Went to lay an eggWhere's the egg?The friar ate itWhere's the friar?He's in the convent
  32. Run agouti, to auntie's houseRun vine, to grandma's house
  33. Handkerchief in hand, fell to the groundPretty girl, of my heart
  34. Saint LucyPassed by hereWith her little horseEating grass
  35. On twenty-fourth street,A woman killed a toadWith her shoe soleThe shoe trembled,The woman died,It wasn't my fault
  36. Noon timeMonkey SofiaMaking facesAt Mrs. Maria
  37. The neighbor's chickenLays little yellow eggsLays one, lays two, lays three,Lays four, lays five, lays six,Lays seven, lays eight, lays nine,Lays ten!
  38. When the everlasting flower blooms,It takes care of the gardenI too want to findSomeone to take care of meSalad, little saladWell seasonedWith salt and pepper
  39. Fire, little fire, stove!Oven mouthOven!Take out the cakeCake!If a master commands?We'll all do it!And if not?Cake!
  40. Saint LucyWho had three daughters:One who spun,One who wove,One who removedThe dust that was there
  41. Yellow parrotWith golden beakSend this little letterTo my sweetheartIf he's sleeping,Knock on the doorIf he's awake,Leave a message
  42. Who is it?It's the bakerAnd what do you want?MoneyCome in,I'll go getYour moneyFrom under the pillow
  43. I was walking down the pathWe were three,With me fourWe climbed the hill three of us,With me fourWe found three donkeys,With me four
  44. Clap, little clap,Guinea's little clapFor when daddy comesMommy gives the food,Grandma hits with vine,On baby's little bottom
  45. Went in through the duck's leg,Came out through the chick's legThe king sent wordThat whoever wantsShould count to five:One, two, three, four, five
  46. Take my hat for a walkIf it comes back, I'll keep it,In my closet so it won't fly!
  47. Dog barks, cat meowsLittle bird sings in the woodsRooster crows, says good morning,Wakes up the whole neighborhood with joy!
  48. There goes the rain, wetting the groundMaking the little plant grow in the backlandsThe sun comes out and dries everything,That's life, I'm not fooled!
  49. Butterfly, fly quicklyGo land in the flower bedColorful, from flower to flower,Decorates life with your love!
  50. Cross the bridge, slowlyWho runs loses their little shoeThe bridge is fragile, it might break,Who's in a hurry, will get wet!