El Pájaro Carpintero – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Marlore Anwandter

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the playful world of "El Pájaro Carpintero" by Marlore Anwandter, a classic children's song from the renowned "Canticuentos" collection. This song offers a charming narrative that introduces listeners to simple Spanish vocabulary through a fun, repetitive story about a woodpecker. Its enduring popularity and engaging rhythm make it an excellent choice for language learners, particularly those interested in children's music and Latin American culture. You can learn new words, practice listening comprehension, and enjoy a piece of musical heritage that has captivated audiences for decades.

[English]

Knock knock knock knock knock knock knock

A woodpecker

started hammering

knock knock

making a hole

in a very fat pear tree

knock knock

the pears protested

shouting as loud as they could

If you keep hammering

we're going to fall

If you keep hammering

we're going to fall

Knock knock knock

Knock knock knock

Knock knock knock knock knock knock

The woodpecker

kept on hammering

knock knock knock

And the pears fell down

right below the tree

Knock knock knock

The woodpecker

had to hang them

with a rubber band

and some wire

with a rubber band

and some wire

Knock knock knock

Knock knock knock

Knock knock knock knock knock knock

[Spanish]

Toc toc toc toc toc toc toc

Un pájaro carpintero

se puso a martillar

toc toc

haciéndole un agujero

a un gordísimo peral

toc toc

las peras le reclamaron

gritando a más no poder

si sigues martillando

nos vamos a caer

si sigues martillando

nos vamos a caer

toc toc toc

toc toc toc

toc toc toc toc toc toc

el pájaro carpintero

siguió con su martillar

toc toc toc

y las peras se cayeron

debajito del peral

toc toc toc

el pájaro carpintero

las tuvo que colgar

con elástico de goma

y alambre de metal

con elástico de goma

y alambre de metal

toc toc toc

toc toc toc

toc toc toc toc toc toc

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pájaro /paˈxaɾo/ A2	noun - bird noun - bird (generally)
carpintero /kaɾpinteˈɾo/ B1	noun - carpenter
martillar /maɾtiˈʝaɾ/ B2	verb - to hammer
agujero /aɣuˈxeɾo/ B2	noun - hole
peral /peˈɾal/ B2	noun - pear tree
peras /ˈpeɾas/ A2	noun - pears
reclamar /reklaˈmaɾ/ B1	verb - to complain
gritando /gɾiˈtando/ B2	verb - shouting
sigues /siˈɣwes/ A2	verb - you continue
martillando /maɾtiˈʝanðo/ B2	verb - hammering (continuous)
caer /kaˈɾeɾ/ A2	verb - to fall
colgar /kolˈɣaɾ/ B2	verb - to hang
elástico /eˈlástico/ B2	noun / adjective - elastic / elastic band
goma /ˈɣoma/ A2	noun - rubber / rubber band
alambre /aˈlambɾe/ B2	noun - wire

Key Grammar Structures

• Un pájaro carpintero se puso a martillar.

  ➔ Simple past tense (preterite) to describe a completed action.

  ➔ The phrase "se puso" indicates that the action of starting to hammer was completed.

• Las peras le reclamaron gritando a más no poder.

  ➔ Gerund to indicate simultaneous actions.

  ➔ The use of "gritando" shows that the pears were shouting at the same time they were complaining.

• Si sigues martillando, nos vamos a caer.

  ➔ Conditional sentences to express hypothetical situations.

  ➔ The phrase "si sigues" introduces a condition that leads to a consequence.

• Las peras se cayeron debajito del peral.

  ➔ Reflexive verbs to indicate actions performed on oneself.

  ➔ The use of "se cayeron" indicates that the pears fell by themselves.

• Con elástico de goma y alambre de metal.

  ➔ Prepositional phrases to indicate means or instruments.

  ➔ The phrase "con elástico de goma y alambre de metal" specifies the materials used.