Mi Burrito Sabanero – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Juana, Canticuentos

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a joyful experience, and “Mi Burrito Sabanero” is a perfect place to start with Spanish. As a beloved Christmas carol, its lyrics are simple, repetitive, and tell the heartwarming story of a journey to Bethlehem. The song offers a chance to learn basic vocabulary related to travel and the nativity, all set to a cheerful and incredibly catchy rhythm. Its universal message of joy and innocence makes it a special and endearing cultural touchstone.

[English]

With my little mountain donkey - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

With my mountain donkey - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

The morning star shines bright - lighting up my path

The morning star shines bright - lighting up my path

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

With my little cart singing - my donkey is trotting along

With my little cart singing - my donkey is trotting along

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

Tuki tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki ta

Hurry up, my little donkey, we’re almost there

Tuki tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki tu

Hurry up, my little donkey, let’s see Jesus

With my mountain donkey - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

With my mountain donkey - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

The morning star shines bright - lighting up my path

The morning star shines bright - lighting up my path

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

With my little cart singing - my donkey is trotting along

With my little cart singing - my donkey is trotting along

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

Tuki tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki ta

Hurry up, my little donkey, we’re almost there

Tuki tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki tu

Hurry up, my little donkey, let’s see Jesus

With my mountain donkey - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

With my mountain donkey - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

If they see me, if they see me - I’m on my way to Bethlehem

[Spanish]

Con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de belén

con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

el lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero

el lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

con mi cuatrico voy cantando mi burrito va trotando

con mi cuatrico voy cantando mi burrito va trotando

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

tuki tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki ta

apúrate mi burrito que ya vamos a llegar

tuki tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki tu

apúrate mi burrito vamos a ver a jesús

con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de belén

con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

el lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero

el lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

con mi cuatrico voy cantando mi burrito va trotando

con mi cuatrico voy cantando mi burrito va trotando

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

tuki tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki ta

apúrate mi burrito que ya vamos a llegar

tuki tuki tuki tuki, tuki tuki tuki tu

apúrate mi burrito vamos a ver a jesús

con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de belén

con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

si me ven si me ven voy camino de belén

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
burrito /buˈrito/ A1	noun - small donkey
camino /kaˈmino/ A2	noun - road, path
belén /beˈlen/ A1	noun - Bethlehem
sabanero /sabaˈnero/ B1	adjective - from the savanna
lucerito /luθeˈɾito/ B2	noun - little star, bright star
mañanero /maɲaˈnero/ B1	adjective - morning (referring to the morning)
ilumina /iluˈmina/ B2	verb - illuminates
sendero /senˈdeɾo/ B1	noun - path, trail
cuatrico /kwaˈtɾiko/ B2	noun - small cuatro (Venezuelan instrument)
cantando /kanˈtando/ A2	verb - singing
trotando /tɾoˈtando/ B1	verb - trotting
apúrate /aˈpuɾate/ A2	verb - hurry up
llegar /ʎeˈɣar/ A2	verb - to arrive
ver /beɾ/ A1	verb - to see
jesús /xeˈsus/ A1	noun - Jesus

Key Grammar Structures

• Con mi burrito sabanero

  ➔ Preposition "con" + possessive adjective "mi" + noun phrase.

  ➔ "Con" means "with". "Mi" means "my". This phrase translates to "With my savanna donkey."

• voy camino de Belén

  ➔ Present tense of "ir" (voy) + noun "camino" + preposition "de" + proper noun (Belén).

  ➔ "Voy" means "I am going". "Camino de" means "on the way to". The whole phrase translates to "I am going on the way to Bethlehem."

• Si me ven si me ven

  ➔ Conditional clause using "si" + reflexive pronoun "me" + verb "ver" (to see) in the present tense.

  ➔ "Si me ven" translates to "If they see me". The repetition emphasizes the phrase. It's a common expression in songs.

• el lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero

  ➔ Definite article "el" + noun phrase "lucerito mañanero" (diminutive form) + verb "iluminar" (to illuminate) in the present tense, 3rd person singular + possessive adjective "mi" + noun "sendero".

  ➔ "El lucerito mañanero" means "the little morning star". "Ilumina mi sendero" means "it illuminates my path".

• con mi cuatrico voy cantando

  ➔ Preposition "con" + possessive adjective "mi" + noun "cuatrico" (diminutive of "cuatro", a type of Venezuelan guitar) + present continuous: present of verb "ir" + gerundio (cantando).

  ➔ "Con mi cuatrico" means "with my little cuatro". "Voy cantando" means "I am going singing" or "I am singing as I go".

• mi burrito va trotando

  ➔ Possessive adjective "mi" + noun "burrito" + present continuous construction similar to previous line: present of verb "ir" (va) + gerundio (trotando).

  ➔ "Mi burrito" means "my little donkey". "Va trotando" means "is going trotting" or "is trotting along".

• apúrate mi burrito que ya vamos a llegar

  ➔ Imperative mood "apúrate" (hurry up) + possessive adjective "mi" + noun "burrito" + conjunction "que" + present tense of "ir" (vamos) + preposition "a" + infinitive "llegar" (to arrive).

  ➔ "Apúrate" means "hurry up". "Que ya vamos a llegar" means "because we are about to arrive". This utilizes a future periphrasis: ir + a + infinitive.