Lithuanian counting rhymes: 30 recorded texts
Showing: 30
Short counting-out formula
Lithuanian original: Skurlum, burlum, tytum, tatum, takšt. Meaning aid: A sequence of playful sounds ending in takšt.
Use its five separated words for a first round. Agree beforehand whether the final takšt selects the catcher or releases a player.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 965, Nr. 9483; 1930, Batakiai; LTR 66(493) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Elimination in a circle
Lithuanian original: Ercik, percik, pamaguli, Vyli, cyli, pačekuli, Ana, dūna, ras, Krinta, žaba, raba, ist! Meaning aid: Predominantly sound play; the final ist marks the selected player.
In the recorded rule, the child reached on ist leaves; the last remaining child performs the task. Keep a steady beat through the similar syllables.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 965, Nr. 9484; 1965, Valkininkai; LTR 3766(50) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Choosing two roles
Lithuanian original: Ercum, percum, pamagulia, Veliak, celiak, patrikulia, Akti, pani, kapitani, Šimu, grešui, nevargani. Meaning aid: A sound-play formula with a captain-like kapitani; the words do not form a continuous story.
This variant assigns running to the last player and chasing to the next-to-last. Count on fingers to allocate both roles.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 965, Nr. 9485; Miroslavas; LTR 2763(111) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Selecting the catcher
Lithuanian original: Engel, bengel, Supar, svarca, Kala, zyla, Zajac, pieš! Meaning aid: Playful sound pairs, ending with zajac, a hare word borrowed into the formula, and pieš.
The source explicitly makes the player reached on pieš the catcher. Do not silently substitute the elimination rule of another rhyme.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 965, Nr. 9486; 1960, Dūkštas; LTR 3537(181) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Sound rhythm
Lithuanian original: Drum, drum, drumbacile, Mice, ace, kumpacile, Mice a, mice bė, Mice ace, kumpacė. Meaning aid: A rhythmic sequence of invented-sounding syllables, contrasting a and bė.
Read slowly first so drumbacile and kumpacile stay distinct. Move between players using the same agreed word or syllable unit.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 966, Nr. 9487; 1962, Kalvarija; LTR 3518(24) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Hare and sound play
Lithuanian original: Iki, piki, gramatiki, Eini, kleini, zuiki, Jei nenori, neskaičiuok, Bebeli, bebeli, taukšt! Meaning aid: Sound play addresses a hare: if you do not want to, do not count; it ends with taukšt.
The meaningful third line sits among playful sounds. Say the final taukšt on one beat, without adding another counting step.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 966, Nr. 9489; 1962, Laukuva; LTR 3523(296) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Older counting substitutes
Lithuanian original: Ele, cvele, drele, kerule, pede, lede, cukman, dukman, kinkel, kiukšt! Meaning aid: A chain of counting-like sound words, with a sharp final kiukšt.
Treat the number-like words as separate counting units. Replacing them with ordinary numbers would remove this variant’s distinctive sound.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 966, Nr. 9493; Vasaros darbai, 1912, p. 12 (VD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Echoes of other languages
Lithuanian original: Ein, cvein, drei, Eizer, lyzer, lai. Okum, bokum, cignaliukum, Unk, bunk, stumk! Meaning aid: German-like counting sounds lead into a playful sound chain and the Lithuanian command stumk, push.
Ein, cvein, drei echoes German counting; keep the recorded wording. The final stumk is a word in the rhyme, not an instruction to shove someone.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 966, Nr. 9494; 1936, Darbėnai; LTR 1459(127) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Longer sound formula
Lithuanian original: Eini, meini, menkepuri, Širu, šaru, išmunguri, Ei, lei, ližu, lažu, Sakom, bakom, Šaps, laps, Kiaulės paps! Meaning aid: A sound chain closes with a pig’s teat, a comic bodily image.
Long words give way to short final bursts. Do not speed up only at the end; keep the counting unit consistent.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 967, Nr. 9495; Vasaros darbai, 1910, p. 14 (VD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Choosing a seeker
Lithuanian original: Ena, bena, doki, baki, Erba, terba, obe, smaki, Ėjus, mėjus, kas mokėjus, Tumba, tumba, bėk! Meaning aid: Playful syllables end in bėk, run.
The recorded rule uses a circle: the player reached by the last word leaves; the final remaining player seeks. Mark bėk with a hand gesture.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 967, Nr. 9496; 1964, Palūšė; LTR 3715(174) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Paired sounds
Lithuanian original: Einalė, dveinalė, Trolė, čerolė, Pinkor, vinkor, Šeškor, meškor, Kiokiolė, kiokiokšt! Meaning aid: Number-like sound pairs end in kiokiokšt.
The five lines consist of pairs. Practise with a leader saying the first word and the group the second; use one speaker when choosing a role.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 967, Nr. 9497; 1961, Kretinga; LTR 3440(1) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Ten-word chain
Lithuanian original: Vienaitė, dvaitė, traitė, keture, pėde, lode, sukum, bukum, divi, diks! Meaning aid: A ten-part chain of altered counting words.
Compare the ten words with counting from one to ten. This exercise does not mean that every word has a precise modern numeral equivalent.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 967, Nr. 9500; Tauta ir žodis, I, 1923, p. 327 (TŽ) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Žemaičių Kalvarija variant
Lithuanian original: Vienulė, dūlė, trulė, kerulė, vengra, pengra, bakom, šakom, meilink, grukšt. Meaning aid: A ten-word sound sequence recorded in Žemaičių Kalvarija.
Compare its opening with Vienaitė, dvaitė, traitė. Retaining dūlė and trulė makes the variation audible.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 968, Nr. 9503; 1935, Žemaičių Kalvarija; LTR 1167(52) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Diminutive words
Lithuanian original: Vienuku, duku, kubiliukų, Ančik, bančik, čebatukų, Pyrik, parik, prakst! Meaning aid: Playful counting syllables include little tubs and little boots.
Kubiliukų and čebatukų bring everyday objects into the sound chain. Practise the longer words clearly before counting players.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 968, Nr. 9504; Mūsų tautinės tverybos žiedai, 1912, p. 48 (TTŽ) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Cockerels
Lithuanian original: Vienuku, duku, Kepė boba du gaiduku. Tie gaidukai repička, Ir bobutė kepicka. Meaning aid: One-two sound play: an old woman cooked two cockerels; the ending returns to playful rhyme.
The clear image of two cockerels turns into repička and kepicka. Do not invent literal meanings for words whose role here is rhyme.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 968, Nr. 9505; Daugai; Gimtasai kraštas, 1939, Nr. 2–3(22–23), p. 646 (GK) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Long counting words
Lithuanian original: Vienairbė, dvairbė, trairbė, keturakė, rainikė, spinginė, ringinė, šakutkė, makutkė, striuoglingė, šmakšt! Meaning aid: An extended sequence of number-like and sound-play words.
Striuoglingė is especially long. Agree to count by words so a long word does not accidentally produce several steps.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 968, Nr. 9506; Vasaros darbai, 1912, p. 12 (VD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Number echoes
Lithuanian original: Vienaga, dunaga, trinaga, keturnaga, penkerė, šenkerė, sakatinė, makatinė, gruodinė, smakt. Meaning aid: A counting chain moves from number-like beginnings to playful endings.
The openings vien-, du-, tri-, ketur- help memorisation. Keep the remaining words unchanged to learn this particular recorded version.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 968, Nr. 9508; Gimtasai kraštas, 1935, Nr. 2(6), p. 310 (GK) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Movement words
Lithuanian original: Viena baka, antra baka, tauzeri, mauzeri, pumput, pažemut, nuskriej, atskriej, i nebliko, pašmikšt, pataukšt! Meaning aid: The sound sequence includes one, another, fly away, fly here, and no more.
Use opposite hand movements for nuskriej and atskriej while learning. Gestures should not change the counting unit when selecting a player.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 968, Nr. 9509; Vasaros darbai, 1910, p. 14 (VD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Birds and animals
Lithuanian original: Vienas, dujei, triku, traku, Gaidys gieda, višta kasa. Kaku, jaku, Stirna stukt. Meaning aid: One, two, sound play; a rooster crows, a hen scratches, and a roe deer makes the final thump.
Notice the two bird actions: crowing and scratching. Keep the final stukt distinct so the selection ending stays clear.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 968, Nr. 9510; 1934, Dusetos; LTR 778(60) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Very short formula
Lithuanian original: Šakutė, pakutė, trakšt, pakšt, kiaukšt! Meaning aid: A little fork, a rhyming word, and three snapping sounds.
The last three words are short sound bursts. Clap them first, then count a small group at an even pace.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 969, Nr. 9512; 1962, Kalvarija; LTR 3518(32) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Rhyming pairs
Lithuanian original: Adata, padata, šypso, vypso, kunkul, munkul, pūkšt! Meaning aid: A needle opens a chain of rhymes and playful sounds.
Three pairs structure the text: adata–padata, šypso–vypso, kunkul–munkul. Pūkšt closes it and should not be repeated as an extra beat.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 969, Nr. 9513; 1963, Utena; LTR 3613(1673) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Bee and nonsense imagery
Lithuanian original: Bitė tritė šimtaragė, Oras voras be ragų. Kai nueisim pas zuikiškį, Tai mes gausim trumpakiškį. Meaning aid: A hundred-horned bee and a hornless spider lead into playful hare words.
The hundred-horned bee is imaginative word play, not natural history. Listen for recurring tri-, rag-, and kišk- sounds.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 969, Nr. 9516; Vasaros darbai, 1912, p. 12 (VD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Question-and-answer formula
Lithuanian original: Striti, biti, Kūri, biti. — Kur nulėksi? — Į Vilkiškį. — Ką ten gausi? — Trumpą kiškį. Ui, ausi, gult! Meaning aid: Where will you fly? To Vilkiškis. What will you get there? A short hare. Sound play frames the exchange.
The source calls this a žeberis and uses it to choose who starts. Rehearse the dialogue in pairs, then count the selection round with one voice.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 969, Nr. 9517; 1937, Viduklė; LTR 1324(251) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Sound pairs
Lithuanian original: Antė mentė — drolė mentė, Ydų dys — kadugys, Šuken, taken, kyren, korė, Šukų, dūkų, riaus! Meaning aid: A chain of sound pairs rather than a continuous narrative.
The dashes organise the wording; they do not create extra counts. Keep the paired sounds moving at the agreed pace.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 970, Nr. 9519; Mūsų tautinės tverybos žiedai, 1912, p. 48 (TTŽ) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Honey and elimination
Lithuanian original: Aus, maus, bus medaus. Kas to medaus paragaus, Tas išeis. Meaning aid: There will be honey; whoever tastes it will go out.
The ending itself says the selected person goes out. Use it to explain the difference between an eliminated player and the last remaining catcher.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 970, Nr. 9521; 1962, Kalvarija; LTR 3518(477) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Final sound burst
Lithuanian original: Ancelis, bancelis,— Raudonas stalelis, Ant ko užpuls, Ant to burdinkšt! Meaning aid: A red little table appears among sound words; the final burdinkšt lands on someone.
Burdinkšt suggests a sudden thump. Point to the selected player; the sound supplies the effect without hitting anyone.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 970, Nr. 9522; Mūsų tautinės tverybos žiedai, 1912, p. 48 (TTŽ) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Unusual wording
Lithuanian original: Ant tų dantų čyžė sakė, Arba, tarba — ne tabake, Žąsies pats. Meaning aid: A deliberately puzzling rhyme with teeth, sound words and a gander-like ending.
Not every phrase can be interpreted securely. Retain čyžė and tarba instead of rewriting the rhyme into a new, smoother sentence.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 970, Nr. 9525; Mūsų tautinės tverybos žiedai, 1912, p. 48 (TTŽ) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Numbers and a bird
Lithuanian original: Kertu, kertu kertolika, Vilkas sakė — penkiolika, O gegutė — šešiolika. Jei nevierij, paskaityk. Meaning aid: The wolf says fifteen, the cuckoo sixteen; if you do not believe it, count.
Nevierij means “you do not believe”; paskaityk here means count. Discuss the wolf’s and cuckoo’s different numbers before the game.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 970, Nr. 9526; Vasaros darbai, 1912, p. 12 (VD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Hare and a name
Lithuanian original: Bėgo kiškis per tiltuką, Susitiko Pilypuką. — Oi Pilypai, Pilypai, Ko nuo tilto nukrypai? Meaning aid: A hare runs across a little bridge, meets Pilypas and asks why he turned away from it.
The repeated Pilypai occupies two word positions. Give each a step when counting by words rather than compressing them into one call.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 973, Nr. 9546; 1936, Šunskai; LTR 914(216) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Train and numbers
Lithuanian original: Čiuku, čiuku traukinys, Jame sėdi mokinys. Vienas, du, trys, Gali būt ir šis. Meaning aid: Choo-choo, a train with a pupil aboard; one, two, three, it could be this one.
Try a slow train rhythm for čiuku. The final šis singles out a player; agree beforehand which role that person receives.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 973, Nr. 9549; 1939, Kretinga; LTR 2134(72); p. 973–974 · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
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How to count players
Stand in a circle and agree what the last word selects: a catcher, a starting player or someone leaving the selection. Where a particular rule is recorded, the item explanation identifies it.
Choose a consistent unit, a word or a syllable, and keep it throughout. We do not claim one supposedly traditional syllable system for every variant.
Counting rhyme or tongue twister?
A counting rhyme allocates roles; a tongue twister tests the clear pronunciation of similar sounds. Both can be rhythmic, but the terms are not interchangeable.
Some rhymes tell a small story; others rely on playful or altered words. We do not assign invented ancient meanings to unclear syllables.
Reading the originals and their sources
The Lithuanian original is retained in every item. English is a meaning aid, not a rhythmic replacement for counting. Some playful syllables have no literal translation. Each text was checked against a page image in volume V of Lietuvių tautosaka (1968).
The locator identifies the item, printed page and earlier publication or LTR/LMD signature listed there. Recording dates are not creation dates. Wording is retained; only spacing and typographic presentation are regularised. Use guidance is newly written.