A Sweet Turkish Song: Küçük Ayşe and the Little Soldier

Children’s songs often reflect the culture and values of a country, and in Turkey, music is a big part of growing up. One short and touching song many Turkish children learn is Küçük Ayşe, which tells two small stories—one about a little girl taking care of her baby doll, and the other about a young child imagining himself as a brave soldier. Let’s take a look at this charming song and what it can teach kids.

Turkish Song: Küçük Ayşe

Küçük Ayşe, küçük Ayşe
Napıyorsun bana söyle?
Bebeğime bakıyorum,
Ona ninni söylüyorum.

Küçük asker, küçük asker,
Napıyorsun bana söyle?
Tüfeğimi çatıyorum,
Vatanımı bekliyorum.
Ben askere gidiyorum

English Translation: Little Ayşe

Little Ayşe, little Ayşe
Tell me what you are doing
I am taking care of my baby
I’m singing her lullabies

Little soldier, little soldier
Tell me what you are doing
I am aiming my rifle
I am protecting my homeland

What Does the Song Mean?

The song shows two simple yet strong examples of children acting like grown-ups. Little Ayşe gently sings to her baby, imitating her mother. The little soldier represents strength and responsibility, pretending to guard the country. These verses are often sung in preschools and early elementary grades and help children connect everyday play with larger ideas of care, love, and duty.

Turkish Words to Learn from the Song

• Küçük – little

• Bebek – baby

• Ninni – lullaby

• Asker – soldier

• Tüfek – rifle

• Vatan – homeland

Parents can pause the song to ask kids what each word means or help them act out each verse with their toys.

Fun Activities to Do with the Song

Role Play with Toys
Let your child sing the song while holding a doll like Ayşe, or pretending to be a soldier with a toy stick as a “tüfek.”

Draw the Scenes
Invite kids to draw two pictures—one of Ayşe and her baby, and one of the little soldier guarding the country. Use labels in Turkish.

Make Your Own Version
Encourage children to change the song and make their own verses. For example: “Küçük doktor ne yapıyor?” (Little doctor, what are you doing?)

Supporting Language Learning with Dinolingo

Songs like Küçük Ayşe are a wonderful way to introduce children to Turkish vocabulary and sentence patterns. If you’re looking for a fun and interactive way to support your child’s learning, Dinolingo has dozens of Turkish songs, animated videos, games, and printable materials. It’s designed for kids aged 2 to 14 and can be used on web, iOS, or Android—plus it includes offline resources and a parent dashboard for progress tracking.

Final Thoughts

Küçük Ayşe may be a short and simple song, but it opens the door to learning, imagination, and cultural understanding. Whether your child is gently rocking a baby doll or standing tall like a toy soldier, singing in Turkish helps language grow naturally. Try learning the song together, acting it out, and creating new versions as a family tradition