Sampung Mga Daliri

“Sampung Mga Daliri” is a traditional Tagalog children's song that moves from fingers and toes to eyes, ears, teeth and tongue. The last line turns a body-part game into a reminder to tell the truth. This is the nursery song, distinct from the 2025 single of the same name by dwta and justin.

What do the Tagalog words mean?

Sampu means ten and dalawa means two. The endings in sampung and dalawang link each number to the word that follows. Daliri can mean a finger or toe; kamay and paa mean hands and feet. Tainga means ear, mata eye, ilong nose, ngipin tooth and dila tongue.

How do you do the actions?

Spread both hands on the first line, then point towards your feet. Touch your ears and point towards your eyes and nose as they are named. Smile to show your teeth, then point at your mouth and shake your head gently for the last line. To practise counting, pause after the first line and count the ten fingers one at a time.

The words here follow the traditional text credited in Aklat ng mga Awit Pambata, page 139. For another rhyme with hand actions, try I Have Two Hands.