Los Peces En El Río – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

Lyrics & Translation

Learning “Los Peces en el Río” is a wonderful way to engage with the Spanish language through a cherished cultural tradition. The song's repetitive and catchy chorus makes it accessible for language learners, while its beautiful imagery and deeper meaning offer insight into the cultural and religious significance of Christmas in the Hispanic world. Singing this carol can be a joyful and immersive experience for anyone looking to connect with the language and festive spirit.

[English]

The Virgin is combing her hair

Between curtain and curtain

Her hair is made of gold

And her comb is fine silver

But look how the fish are drinking in the river

But look how they drink to see the newborn God

They drink and drink, then drink again

The fish in the river, to see God's birth

The Virgin is washing her hands

And hanging them on the rosemary

While angel children sing

And the rosemary is in bloom

But look how the fish are drinking in the river

But look how they drink to see the newborn God

They drink and drink, then drink again

The fish in the river, to see God's birth

The Virgin is washing again

With a little bit of soap

Her hands got pricked

Hands of my heart

But look how the fish are drinking in the river

But look how they drink to see the newborn God

They drink and drink, then drink again

The fish in the river, to see God's birth

[Spanish]

La virgen se está peinando

entre cortina y cortina

sus cabellos son de oro

y el peine de plata fina

pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río

pero mira cómo beben por ver al Dios nacido

beben y beben y vuelven a beber

los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer

la virgen está lavando

y tendiendo en el romero

los angelitos cantando

y el romero florecido

pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río

pero mira cómo beben por ver al Dios nacido

beben y beben y vuelven a beber

los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer

la virgen está lavando

con un poquito de jabón

se le picaron las manos

manos de mi corazón

pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río

pero mira cómo beben por ver al Dios nacido

beben y beben y vuelven a beber

los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pez /pɛθ/ A2	noun - fish
beber /beˈβeɾ/ A2	verb - to drink
Dios /ˈdjos/ A2	noun - God
nacer /naˈθeɾ/ B1	verb - to be born
virgen /ˈbiɾxen/ A2	noun - virgin
lavar /laˈβaɾ/ A2	verb - to wash
tender /tenˈdɛɾ/ B1	verb - to hang out (clothes, etc.), to stretch or spread
romero /roˈmeɾo/ A2	noun - rosemary (plant)
cantar /kãnˈtaɾ/ A2	verb - to sing
florecer /floɾeˈθeɾ/ B2	verb - to bloom, to flourish
peina /peˈina/ A2	noun - comb
bajo /ˈbaxo/ A1	adjective - short, low
cortina /korˈti.na/ A2	noun - curtain

Key Grammar Structures

• La virgen se está peinando

  ➔ Present continuous tense.

  ➔ The phrase "se está peinando" indicates an action currently in progress.

• los peces en el río

  ➔ Definite article usage.

  ➔ The phrase "los peces" uses the definite article "los" to specify particular fish.

• por ver al Dios nacido

  ➔ Infinitive construction.

  ➔ The phrase "por ver" uses the infinitive form to express purpose.

• beben y beben y vuelven a beber

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis.

  ➔ The repetition of "beben" emphasizes the action of drinking.

• la virgen está lavando

  ➔ Present continuous tense.

  ➔ The phrase "está lavando" indicates an ongoing action.

• con un poquito de jabón

  ➔ Prepositional phrase.

  ➔ The phrase "con un poquito de jabón" specifies the means by which the action is performed.

• se le picaron las manos

  ➔ Impersonal construction.

  ➔ The phrase "se le picaron" indicates an action that happens to someone without specifying who.