Ladushki (Ладушки)
Russian Nursery Rhyme
Original Lyrics
Russian script
Ладушки, ладушки,Где были? У бабушки.Что ели? Кашку.Что пили? Бражку.Кашка сладенька,Бражка пьяненька,Бабушка добренька.Попили, поели,Шу-у-у, полетели,На головушку сели.
Romanized (pronunciation)
Ladushki, ladushki,Gde byli? U babushki.Chto yeli? Kashku.Chto pili? Brazhku.Kashka sladen'ka,Brazhka pyanen'ka,Babushka dobren'ka.Popili, poyeli,Shu-u-u, poleteli,Na golovushku seli.
Literal English translation
Ladushki, ladushki,Where were you? At Grandma's.What did you eat? Porridge.What did you drink? A little brew.The porridge was sweet,The brew was intoxicating,Grandma was kind.Had a drink, had a bite,Whoosh, off they flew,And landed on a little head.
Translation Notes
Translation Notes
Ladushki is the sound that starts the game. The word is left in Russian in the translation. Babushka means grandmother. Kashka is an affectionate form of kasha, or porridge. Brazhka is a fermented drink in the old text. It helps the pattern of small, affectionate word forms carry through the verse.
History and Meaning
How to play Ladushki
Sit opposite a child and clap your own hands on the opening words. Ask each question and leave a pause for the child or a second adult to answer. On the long shu-u-u, flutter your fingers up like wings, then rest your hands on your own head. Younger children can simply watch and copy one movement at a time.
History
Ladushki belongs to the Russian poteshki, little rhymes said or sung during play. The words here follow the first form in this collection of variants, which gives nineteenth-century collections by P. V. Shein for that group of texts. Alexander Tereshchenko also recorded the question-and-answer form in 1848. Different families use different endings, but a visit to Grandma, a meal and clapping are common features. Compare the simple hand rhythm of Pat-a-Cake.
Lyrics from nurseryrhymes.info