Eeenie, Meenie, Minie, Mo...

[Marsopa]

How do you say this in Spanish?

[Iris]

You say pinto, pinto ,gorgorito... but I don't know how to continue. I'm sure Alfonso will be able to help you.

[Tomisimo]

I had to think about it for a minute before I could even remember the full version in English:

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by its toe
If he hollers let him go
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

In Spanish there's a few different versions

Pito, pito, gorgorito,
dónde vas tú tan bonito.
A la era verdadera,
pim, pam fuera.
Tu te vas y tu te quedas.

Pinto, pinto, gorgorito,
saca la vaca de veinticinco.
¿En qué lugar?
En Portugal.
¿En qué calleja?
En la Moraleja.
Esconde esa mano
que viene la vieja.

Pero está mejor la de Cuba:

Tin Marín de Dos Pingüé
Cúcara Mácara Títere fue.
Pasó la mula, pasó Miguel.
¿Cuántas patas tiene el gato?
Una, dos, tres y cuatro.
La manzana se pasea
de la sala al comedor.
No me pinches con cuchillo...
¡pínchame con tenedor!

In Mexico, it starts out with "something.. de don Pingüé" but I can't remember. The Wikipedia page also has more info.

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by Iris

You say pinto, pinto ,gorgorito... but I don't know how to continue. I'm sure Alfonso will be able to help you.

Why should I know pinto pinto gorgorito? Let's try it:

Pinto pinto,
gorgorito,
en qué lugar
está el lunar
en qué calleja
la morajeja
esconde la mano
que viene la vieja.

It's really important when you get to la vieja you start tickling the human being you have over your knees.

[Iris]

The one I knew was the second one you wrote. You brought my childhood back to me... sweet!

[Iris]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

Why should I know pinto pinto gorgorito? Let's try it:

Pinto pinto,
gorgorito,
en qué lugar
está el lunar
en qué calleja
la morajeja
esconde la mano
que viene la vieja.

It's really important when you get to la vieja you start tickling the human being you have over your knees.

You say tickling, sweetheart. And I didn't know this had anything to do with tickling. Aren't you supposed to use these rhymes to count?
And in answer to your question, because you know everything... (roll eyes)

[Alfonso]

To count? I have never used this to count. We, my family, my brothers and sisters, used it to tickle each other. What kind of childhood did you have?

[Tomisimo]

In English we used this to count off in a circle of friends to pick one of us to do something (start a game, be the leader etc.)

[Iris]

A nice one, mate. If you are playing a game and you want to know,e.g. who is out, you go eenie, meenie... Or if you want to divide people into two teams... I didn't mean count for your maths class.

[Hombre-Araña]

I wish there was a way to know the beat to these rhymes (the Spanish ones, that is). I have no sense of rhythm whatsoever . Is there anywhere I could hear them, online perhaps?

[Tomisimo]

That would be neat. Any of the native speakers are welcome to record it and upload it as a wav or mp3 and attach it to this thread. Any takers?