Saco una manito (I take out one hand) is a perfect Spanish song or finger play for toddlers and preschoolers. It is also known as Las manitas and is one of the first songs that many Spanish-speaking children learn. In Mexico and Spain, the diminutive of la mano (hand) is la manita. In those countries, the song is sung with la manita instead of la manito.
Be sure to check out our Spanish Poems for Kids for more nursery rhymes and finger plays to do with your little language learners.
This Spanish song teaches children the words sacar (to take out), hacer (to make), abrir (to open), and cerrar (to close). The song has simple actions that makes the meaning of all these verbs clear. Combining movement with language is one of the most effective ways for kids to learn. Doing the actions helps children process the sound of the word and the meaning at a deeper level than if they were just singing.
Spanish finger play: Saco una manito
This is a version of Saco una manito spoken as a finger play. The video has the words on the screen and the images make the meaning of the words clear.
Saco Una Manito Lyrics and Translation
Saco una manita. La hago bailar, / I take out one hand. I make it dance.
La cierro, la abro y la vuelvo a guardar. / I close it, I open it, and I put it away again.
Saco la otra manita. La hago bailar, / I take out the other hand. I make it dance.
La cierro, la abro y la vuelvo a guardar. / I close it, I open it, and I put it away again.
Saco las dos manitas. Las hago bailar, / I take out two hands. I make them dance.
Las cierro, las abro y las vuelvo a guardar. / I close them, I open them, and I put them away again.
Y ahora estas dos manitas juntitas están. / And now these two hands are together.
Se dan un besito y se van a jugar. / They give each other a kiss and they go play.
I like the version by Adriana Szusterman on her CD Cantando con Adriana Vol. 2. Adriana is from Argentina and is one of the most popular children’s artists in Latin America. You can hear her version of Saco una manito in this video of a preschool class. The song is followed by two other songs about hands – A mis manos and Si yo pongo – also by Adriana. The Spanish lyrics and a translation of Saco una manito follow the video.
This is another version of the song.
Saco una manito. La hago bailar, / I take out one hand. I make it dance.
La cierro, la abro y la vuelvo a guardar. / I close it, I open it, and I put it away again.
Saco otra manito. La hago bailar, / I take out the other hand. I make it dance.
La cierro, la abro y la vuelvo a guardar. / I close it, I open it, and I put it away again.
Saco las dos manitos. Las hago bailar, / I take out two hands. I make them dance.
Las cierro, las abro y las vuelvo a guardar. / I close them, I open them, and I put them away again.
You can find lots more Spanish songs for kids learning language here. They are organized by age and vocabulary theme, so there are great resources to keep you singing.
