There are several children’s songs in Spanish that teach or reinforce the question word dónde (where). These songs also teach estar, the Spanish verb for “to be” that is used to express location.
¿Dónde están las llaves? (Where are the keys?) is a traditional song with several versions. It can be a game played by a group of children, a clapping game, or used for jump rope. It is a very fun song to sing – one that even my university students enjoy.
Traditionally, ¿Dónde están las llaves? is sung as a dialog. One line of children holds hands and faces another line of children holding hands. The two lines are several feet apart. One line of children moves forward to the first two lines of the song, and then back with the next two lines. The second group of children answers, moving forward with the first lines of the second stanza and then back with the next two lines. They repeat the same movements with the next two stanzas. In some versions, the song then names a child who moves between the two lines.
Like many children’s songs, this song has some nonsense sounds. Although they do not have meaning, these nonsense syllables teach the sounds of Spanish. Here is a link to the version that I teach and the lyrics in Spanish. There is also a literal translation.
Click here to hear ¿Dónde están las llaves?
Tengo un castillo, / I have a castle
matarile, rile, rile. / matarile, rile, rile.
Yo tengo un castillo, / I have a castle
matarile, rile, ron chimpón. / matarile, rile, ron, chimpón.
¿Dónde están las llaves? / Where are the keys?
matarile, rile, rile. / matarile, rile, rile.
¿Dónde están las llaves? / Where are the keys?
matarile, rile, ron, chimpón. / matarile, rile, ron, chimpón.
En el fondo del mar, / At the bottom of the sea,
matarile, rile, rile. / matarile, rile, rile.
En el fondo del mar, / At the bottom of the sea,
matarile, rile, ron, chimpón. / matarile, rile, ron, chimpón.
¿Quién irá a buscarlas? / Who will go to look for them?
matarile, rile, rile. / matarile, rile, rile.
¿Quién irá a buscarlas? / Who will go to look for them?
matarile, rile, ron, chimpón. / matarile, rile, ron, chimpón.
This a version of ¿Dónde están las llaves? used as a song for jumping rope.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in Spanish also teaches the question word dónde. Instead of the question “How I wonder what you are?” the Spanish version simply asks ¿Dónde estás? (Where are you?). Here are two different versions of the song, and literal translations of each.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in Spanish – Version 1
Estrellita, ¿dónde estas?
Quiero verte cintilar
en el cielo, sobre el mar.
Un diamante de verdad.
Estrellita, ¿dónde estás?
Quiero verte cintilar.
Literal translation:
Little star, where are you?
I want to see you shine
in the sky, over the sea;
a real diamond.
Little star, where are you?
I want to see you shine.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in Spanish – Version 2
Estrellita, ¿dónde estas?
Quiero verte a ti brillar.
Esta noche allí estarás.
Cual diamante brillarás
Estrellita, ¿dónde estas?
Quiero verte a ti brillar.
Es muy tarde. El sol se va.
Ya la noche llegará.
Ven aquí a iluminar.
Brilla, brilla sin parar.
Estrellita, ¿dónde estas?
Quiero verte a ti brillar
Literal translation:
Little star, where are you?
I want to see you shine.
Tonight you will be there,
Like a diamond you will shine.
Little star, where are you?
I want to see you shine.
It’s very late. The sun is leaving.
Soon the night will arrive.
Come here to shine,
shine, shine without stopping.
Little star, where are you?
I want to see you shine.
