Five Little Ducks

Five Little Ducks is a nursery rhyme and counting-out game. The rhyme also has an associated tune and finger play.

Lyrics and music

Like all folk songs, the exact wording varies. A common variant is:

Five little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "quack quack quack quack,"
And only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "quack quack quack quack,"
And only three little ducks came back.

Three little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "quack quack quack quack,"
And only two little ducks came back.

Two little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "quack quack quack quack,"
And only one little duck came back.

One little duck went swimming one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "quack quack quack quack,"
But no little ducks came swimming back.

Mother duck went out swimming one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "quack quack quack quack,"
And all five little ducks came swimming back.

Actions

Five little ducks went swimming one day, (Hold up five fingers)
Over the hills and far away. (Wave hand as if going up and down a hill)
Mother duck said, "quack quack quack quack," (Make opening and closing motion with hand, as if a beak)
And only four little ducks came back. (Hold up four fingers)

Repeat actions, using the correct number of fingers as the numbers count down.

DIY Paper Puppet Show

Five Little Ducks - Paper Puppet show

Translations

German There is a translation into German as 'Fünf kleine Enten'.

Spanish There is a translation into Spanish as 'Cinco patitos'.

Armenian There is a translation into Western Armenian under copyright by Karenn Presti in My First Armenian Songbook, 2017.

See also

• List of playground songs
• 5 Little Ducks, picture book by Denise Fleming