“Gli Animali” — Animals Song in Italian for Kids

In “Gli Animali” (The Animals), kids sing key Italian words like animale, grande, piccolo and elefante, going back and forth between English and Italian, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a beginner song from Unit 4: Animals, 2:06 long, made for ages 2–8.

🇮🇹 Italian
Level: Beginner
Unit 4 · Gli Animali
⏱ 2:06
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“Gli Animali” lyrics with English translation

Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. Italian is shown in teal.

Song lyrics with translation. Italian lines are shown in teal.
Sung	Meaning
Cat!	Gatto!
Gatto!	Cat!
A cat!	Un gatto!
Un gatto!	A cat!
Big elephant!	Elefante grande!
Elefante grande!	Big elephant!
Small mouse!	Topolino piccolo!
Topolino piccolo!	Small mouse!
The dog is big!	Il cane è grande!
Il cane è grande!	The dog is big!
The bird is small!	L’uccellino è piccolo!
L’uccellino è piccolo!	The bird is small!
Fish, fish!	Pesce, pesce!
Pesce, pesce!	Fish, fish!
Hello, dog!	Ciao, cane!
Ciao, cane!	Hello, dog!
What animal?	Che animale?
Che animale?	What animal?
A big elephant!	Un elefante grande!
Un elefante grande!	A big elephant!
Big, grande!
Small, piccolo!
Say it, play it, learn a little more!	Dillo, giocalo, impara un po’ di più!
Cat!	Gatto!
Gatto!	Cat!
Let’s learn together, one word more!	Impariamo insieme, un’altra parola!
Lion!	Leone!
Leone!	Lion!
A little bird!	Un uccellino!
Un uccellino!	A little bird!
The lion runs!	Il leone corre!
Il leone corre!	The lion runs!
Where’s the horse?	Dov’è il cavallo?
Dov’è il cavallo?	Where’s the horse?
Here’s the horse!	Ecco il cavallo!
Ecco il cavallo!	Here’s the horse!
The duck says quack!	L’anatra fa qua qua!
L’anatra fa qua qua!	The duck says quack!
Good morning, cat!	Buongiorno, gatto!
Buongiorno, gatto!	Good morning, cat!
I see a fish!	Vedo un pesce!
Vedo un pesce!	I see a fish!
What animal?	Che animale?
Che animale?	What animal?
A big elephant!	Un elefante grande!
Un elefante grande!	A big elephant!
Big, grande!
Small, piccolo!
Say it, play it, learn a little more!	Dillo, giocalo, impara un po’ di più!
Cat!	Gatto!
Gatto!	Cat!
Let’s learn together, one word more!	Impariamo insieme, un’altra parola!
Big or small?	Grande o piccolo?
Grande o piccolo?	Big or small?
The dog is small!	Il cane è piccolo!
Il cane è piccolo!	The dog is small!
Your turn—say it!	Tocca a te, dillo!
Tocca a te!	Your turn!
Brava! Bravo! Here we go!
What animal?	Che animale?
Che animale?	What animal?
A big elephant!	Un elefante grande!
Un elefante grande!	A big elephant!
Big, grande!
Small, piccolo!
Say it, play it, learn a little more!	Dillo, giocalo, impara un po’ di più!
Cat!	Gatto!
Gatto!	Cat!
Let’s learn together, one word more!	Impariamo insieme, un’altra parola!
Ciao, animals!
Ciao, animali!	Bye, animals!
Bye-bye! Arrivederci!

Key Italian words in this song

The 4 words and phrases this song is built around.

Italian	English
animale	animal
grande	big
piccolo	small
elefante	elephant

How to use this song with your child

1
Listen for “piccolo”
“piccolo” (small) is sung on 7 lines of this song. Ask your child to clap or raise a hand every time they hear it; by the end they will be saying it with the song.
2
Pause between the call and the answer
The song moves back and forth between English and Italian. On a second listen, pause after an English line and let your child try the Italian answer before the song sings it.
3
Make it a routine
At 2:06, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Draw the animals from the song together and label them with their Italian names.