“La Barchetta” — Little Boat Song in Italian for Kids
In “La Barchetta” (The Little Boat), kids sing key Italian words like la barchetta, il mare, le onde and dondola, going back and forth between English and Italian, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a beginner song from Unit 27: Bedtime Lullabies, 3:33 long, made for ages 2–8.
- 🇮🇹 Italian
- Level: Beginner
- Unit 27 · Ninne Nanne
- ⏱ 3:33
- 🔒 Premium
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“La Barchetta” lyrics with English translation
Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. Italian is shown in teal.
| Sung | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Little boat — la barchetta | |
| La barchetta — little boat | |
| The sea — il mare | |
| Il mare — the sea | |
| Waves — le onde | |
| Le onde — waves | |
| Rock gently — dondola | |
| Dondola — rock gently | |
| Piano piano — slowly | |
| Slowly — piano piano | |
| Avanti e indietro — back and forth | |
| Back and forth — avanti e indietro | |
| Dormi, dormi — sleep, sleep | |
| Sleep, little one — dormi | |
| The wind — il vento | |
| Il vento — the wind | |
| Soft breeze — brezza lieve | |
| Brezza lieve — soft breeze | |
| The sand — la sabbia | |
| La sabbia — the sand | |
| The lighthouse — il faro | |
| Il faro — the lighthouse | |
| Far away — lontano | |
| Lontano — far away | |
| Piano piano — slowly | |
| Slowly — piano piano | |
| Avanti e indietro — back and forth | |
| Back and forth — avanti e indietro | |
| Dormi, dormi — sleep, sleep | |
| Sleep, little one — dormi | |
| Piano piano — slowly | |
| Slowly — piano piano | |
| Avanti e indietro — back and forth | |
| Back and forth — avanti e indietro | |
| Dormi, dormi — sleep, sleep | |
| Sleep, little one — dormi | |
| Mmm, mmm — piano piano | Mmm, mmm — softly, softly |
| Mmm, mmm — dormi | Mmm, mmm — sleep |
| Mmm, mmm — il mare | Mmm, mmm — the sea |
| Mmm, mmm — dormi | Mmm, mmm — sleep |
Key Italian words in this song
The 10 words and phrases this song is built around.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| la barchetta | the little boat |
| il mare | the sea |
| le onde | the waves |
| dondola | rock gently |
| il vento | the wind |
| la sabbia | the sand |
| il faro | the lighthouse |
| piano piano | slowly |
| avanti e indietro | back and forth |
| dormi | sleep |
How to use this song with your child
- 1
Make “dormi” the word of the day
This song repeats “dormi” (sleep) on 8 lines. Use it once or twice during the day outside the song, and let your child correct you if you get it wrong.
- 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 3:33, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Whisper the song's goodnight words to each other at the end.
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“The Little Boat” in other languages
The same song, written for each language we teach.
134 Italian songs, 32 topics, one joyful habit
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