# Zehn kleine Zappelmänner

"Zehn kleine Zappelmänner" is a German finger-play rhyme in which the child's ten fingers become ten little "fidget men" that wiggle, hide and pop back up; it is one of the best-known German finger games.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Sung in | German |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | traditional finger-play, presumed 20th century |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/zehn-kleine-zappelmanner/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (de)

Zehn kleine Zappelmänner
zappeln hin und her,
zehn kleinen Zappelmännern
fällt das gar nicht schwer.

### Verse 2 (de)

Zehn kleine Zappelmänner
zappeln auf und nieder,
zehn kleine Zappelmänner
tun das immer wieder.

### Verse 3 (de)

Zehn kleine Zappelmänner
zappeln ringsherum,
zehn kleine Zappelmänner
fallen plötzlich um.

### Verse 4 (de)

Zehn kleine Zappelmänner
kriechen ins Versteck,
zehn kleine Zappelmänner
sind auf einmal weg.

### Verse 5 (de)

Zehn kleine Zappelmänner
sind nun wieder da,
zehn kleine Zappelmänner
rufen laut: „Hurra!"

### English translation (en)

Ten little fidget men
wiggle to and fro,
ten little fidget men
find it easy to do.

Ten little fidget men
wiggle up and down,
ten little fidget men
do it again and again.

Ten little fidget men
wiggle round and round,
ten little fidget men
suddenly fall down.

Ten little fidget men
creep into hiding,
ten little fidget men
all at once are gone.

Ten little fidget men
now are back once more,
ten little fidget men
shout out loud: "Hooray!"

## Common questions

**How do you play "Zehn kleine Zappelmänner"?**

With your ten fingers. They are the "Zappelmänner" — little fidget men — and you make them do whatever the verse says: wiggle back and forth, bob up and down, dance in a circle, fall over, creep into hiding behind your back, then pop out again with a loud "Hurra!" It is a finger game, meant to be acted out rather than just sung.

**What does "Zappelmänner" mean?**

Roughly "fidget men" or "wiggle men". "Zappeln" means to fidget, squirm or wriggle, so the ten Zappelmänner are ten restless little figures — which is exactly what ten waggling fingers look like to a small child.

**How old is "Zehn kleine Zappelmänner", and who wrote it?**

The author is not known. It is a traditional finger-play, passed on by word of mouth, and is generally thought to date from the 20th century. It remains one of the most popular German finger games for very young children.

## Sources

- [Sternschnuppe — Zehn kleine Zappelmänner (Kinderlieder-Texte)](https://www.sternschnuppe-kinderlieder.de/kinderlieder-texte/226/Zehn%20kleine%20Zappelm%C3%A4nner%20(lustiges%20Fingerspiel))