a white long-eared rabbit with grey tail nibbling carrot in a barn

Slovenia · sung in Slovenian

Zajček dolgoušček

"Zajček dolgoušček" ("Little Long-Eared Rabbit") is a much-loved Slovenian children's song by Janez Bitenc, describing a white rabbit with quick paws and long whiskers who lives in the barn and comes trustingly up to the singer.

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Besedilo (Lyrics)

Celotno besedilo pesmi »Zajček dolgoušček« z angleškim prevodom.

Zajček dolgoušček, bel imaš kožušček, hitre tačke, ostre zobke, dolge brke, repek siv.

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S kravico stanuješ, v hlevu poskakuješ, repo glodaš in korenje, deteljico in krompir.

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Vsakemu uideš, k meni vselej prideš, s smrčkom vohaš, prst poližeš, potlej pa vesel zbežiš.

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English translation

Little long-eared rabbit, you have a white little coat, quick little paws, sharp little teeth, long whiskers, a grey little tail. You live with the cow, you hop about in the barn, you gnaw turnip and carrot, clover and potato. You escape from everyone, but you always come to me, you sniff with your snout, lick my finger, then happily run away.

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Zajček dolgoušček at a glance

Country of origin
🇸🇮 Slovenia
Sung in
Slovenian
Words by
Janez Bitenc
First known
by Janez Bitenc
Best for ages
2–7
Mood
playful, traditional
Last updated
25 July 2026

Meaning and origin

This is one of the tenderest of all Slovenian children’s songs. It looks a little rabbit over from head to tail with obvious affection — a white coat, quick paws, sharp little teeth, long whiskers, a grey tail — and then places him in a cosy, ordinary world: he lives in the barn with the cow and nibbles turnip, carrot, clover and potato. It is the sort of loving inventory a child might make of a pet they adore.

The last verse gives it its heart. The rabbit escapes from everyone else, the song says, but he always comes to me — sniffing, licking a finger, and then hopping happily off again. That small moment of trust, the wild little creature choosing the child, is what makes it special. It was written by Janez Bitenc (1925–2005), the most beloved of Slovenian children’s composers, whose gift for exactly this kind of gentle, singable warmth has kept his songs in every Slovenian nursery for generations.

Common questions

What is "Zajček dolgoušček" about?
A friendly little rabbit. The song describes him lovingly, part by part — a white coat, quick paws, sharp little teeth, long whiskers, a grey tail — then tells how he lives with the cow in the barn, nibbling turnip, carrot, clover and potato, and how, though he escapes from everyone else, he always comes trustingly to the singer, sniffs, licks a finger, and hops happily away.
Who wrote "Zajček dolgoušček"?
The Slovenian children's composer Janez Bitenc (1925–2005), one of the most prolific and beloved writers of Slovenian children's songs — his tunes are known to nearly every child in the country.
What makes "Zajček dolgoušček" a favourite?
Its warmth and its gentle detail. By describing the rabbit so tenderly and ending with him coming to the child's own hand, it turns a simple animal song into a little moment of trust and affection.

Sources