Theresa wrote asking for help with a childhood rhyme that’s possibly of Russian or German origin:
Greetings from WA State.
My grandfather passed away years ago, and when I was a small girl, I remember him sitting little ones on his knee and bouncing them to a familiar sing-song. I DO NOT have any idea what it was and am the only person in our current family who even slightly remembers what it sounded like. Maybe you could give me a hint?
He would brush your chin and say: "Spitz spaddel"
Then your mouth: "mouse chaddel"
Then your mouth: "nospifila"
Then your one eye and then the other: "diegle, double dego"
Then tickle your forehead and say: "sveet, sveet."
Does this sound anything like the German / Russian man he was?
Thank you for your time.
If anyone can help with this rhyme, please comment below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
This article was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2013 at 1:47 pm and is filed under Countries & Cultures, German, Germany, Languages, Lap Rhymes, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Russia, Russian, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
February 9th, 2013 at 5:12 am
Raz – dva – tree – chetyre – pyat’
Vyshel zaichik pogulyat’.
Vdrug okhotnik vybegaet
Pryamo v zaichika strelyaet.
Pif-paf oy oy oy
umiraet zaichik moy.
Prinesli ego domoy
Okazalsya on zhivoy!
Everybody in Russia knows this rhyme.
the translation is:
one two three four five
a hare went out for a walk.
suddenly a hunter appeared
and shot the hare.
bang bang oh oh oh
my hare is going to die.
he was brought home
and he turned to be alive.
February 13th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
In German
Spitzbart – goatee
das Mauseloch – mousehole
I am sorry. I am not able to help more.
February 13th, 2013 at 6:19 pm
Thank you both! I wonder if Marina or anyone else could post the rhyme in actual Russian? Thanks! -Mama Lisa
February 14th, 2013 at 9:49 am
http://www.maciki.com/skorogov14.php
Вышел Зайчик погулять
Раз, два, три, четыре, пять
Вышел Зайчик погулять.
Вдруг охотник выбегает –
Прямо в Зайчика стреляет:
Пиф-паф!
Ой-ой-ой!
Умирает Зайка мой…
Принесли его домой-
Оказался он живой!
In my view, her grandfather was German.
December 25th, 2013 at 8:22 pm
My grandfather was Russian and he used to sing this rhyme while bouncing me on his knee, as well. He recently passed away and I realized he took the actual Russian lyrics with him. I went searching for the words and came upon this site. Thanks for posting!