Este dedito compró un huevito (this little finger, or toe, bought an egg) is a Spanish rhyme that you say as you play with a child’s fingers or toes. It is a traditional rhyme and one of the most common games to play with little children. It is perfect for preschoolers and older kids too because it has lots of rhythm and great verbs. Older kids can do it as a finger play.
This rhyme is similar to “This little piggy went to market” in English. You wiggle each finger or toe and at the end you tickle the child. With the Spanish rhyme you start with the little finger or toe and end with the thumb or big toe. There are lots of different versions, but they all involve getting an egg ready to eat and end with the big toe or thumb eating it up.
Some people sing this Spanish rhyme and others just chant it. You can hear one common version sung at the beginning of this video: Spanish game -Este dedito compró un huevito. These are the words:
Este dedito compró un huevito. / This little finger bought an egg.
Este dedito lo echó a cocer. / This little finger put it on to cook.
Este dedito le puso sal. / This little finger salted it.
Este dedito lo revolvió. / This little finger scrambled it.
Y este gordo goloso se lo comió. / And this fat sweet-tooth ate it up.
You can download the mp3 of the songs on the video from Amazon. They are by the Chilean group Mazapán.
Here are a few more versions of Este dedito compró un huevito.
Este dedito compró un huevito, / This little finger bought an egg,
éste lo cocinó, / This one cooked it,
éste le echó la sal, / This one salted it,
éste lo probó, / This one tasted it,
¡y este pícaro gordo se lo comió! / and this naughty fat one ate it up.
Este dedito tenía hambre, / This little finger was hungry.
éste compró un huevito, / This one bought an egg.
éste lo frió, / This one fried it.
éste le echó sal, / This one salted it.
!Y este pícaro gordo se lo comió! / And this naughty fat one ate it up.
Este dedito compró un huevo, / This little finger bought an egg,
éste lo puso a cocer, / This one put it on to cook,
éste lo peló, / This one peeled it.
éste le echó sal, / This one salted it.
y este gordito gordo ¡todo, todo se lo comió! / and this fat, fat one ate it all up.
Este compró un huevo, / This one bought an egg.
éste encendió el fuego, / This one lit the fire.
éste trajo la sal, / This on brought the salt.
éste lo guisó, / This one cooked it,
¡y este pícaro gordo se lo comió! / and this naughty fat one ate it all up.
There are many more versions of this rhyme. You can see lots of YouTube videos with children saying it by searching Este dedito compró un huevito.
There is also a version about going to church, Este dedito fue a la iglesia. These are the words and you can see a video of it here: Spanish rhyme – Este dedito fue a la iglesia
Este dedito fue a la iglesia, / This little finger went to church
y este dedito lo acompañó, / and this little finger went with him.
y este dedito cantó un corito, / and this little finger sang a chorus.
y este dedito predicó, / and this little finger preached,
y este dedito muy chiquitito, / and this little, tiny finger
¿saben lo que dijo? ¡Gloria a Dios! / Do you know what he said? Glory to God!
