# Čebelica Maja

"Čebelica Maja" is the Slovenian version of the theme song to the "Maya the Bee" cartoon: music by Karel Svoboda, introducing the little, clever and cheeky bee Maja who flies wherever she pleases.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Slovenia |
| Sung in | Slovenian |
| Words by | Karel Svoboda |
| First known | TV theme (Slovenian version); music by Karel Svoboda |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/cebelica-maja/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (sl)

Nekoč, že dolgo je tega,
v deželi, res ne vemo kje,
živela je čebelica,
imela lepo je ime.
Vsi, ki so jo poznali, so ji rekli Maja,
mala, zvita in predrzna Maja,
Maja, ki leti, leti,
kamorkoli se ji zdi.

### Verse 2 (sl)

Spet danes z nami tu čebelica je Maja,
mala, zvita in predrzna Maja,
Maja, ki leti, leti,
Maja, Maja,
Maja, o sebi kaj povej.

### English translation (en)

Once, long ago now,
in a land — we really don't know where —
there lived a little bee,
and she had a lovely name.
All who knew her called her Maja,
little, clever and cheeky Maja,
Maja, who flies and flies,
wherever she pleases.

Again today the little bee Maja is here with us,
little, clever and cheeky Maja,
Maja, who flies and flies,
Maja, Maja,
Maja, tell us about yourself.

## Common questions

**What is "Čebelica Maja"?**

It is the Slovenian-language theme song of the animated series "Maya the Bee". It introduces Maja — a bee with a lovely name, "little, clever and cheeky" — who flies wherever she pleases, and invites her to tell us about herself.

**Who wrote "Čebelica Maja"?**

The music was composed by the Czech composer Karel Svoboda, with original German lyrics by Florian Cusano; the famous original recording was sung by Karel Gott. This is the Slovenian version, performed by Janko Ropret.

**So is "Čebelica Maja" a Slovenian song?**

The tune is not Slovenian in origin — it belongs to the German "Die Biene Maja" cartoon — but generations of Slovenian children know it in this Slovenian version, which is why it sits here among their favourites.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — Die Biene Maja (song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Biene_Maja_(song))
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25392985