7 English Nursery Rhymes Translated into French

Nursery rhymes have long been a cherished part of early childhood, transcending borders and connecting generations.

French is my second language and when my children were babies I found myself wanting to sing the English nursery rhymes I'd learnt as a little girl with them, as well as the traditional French ones I'd learned while living in France (a link to my page for French nursery rhymes with their English translations/English versions is coming soon...)

In this post I share with you some of the traditional English nursery rhymes translated into French, celebrating the joy they bring to young children and fostering a cultural exchange through the universal language of music and rhyme.

Worried that your French isn't up to it? Fear not! I used to teach a parent and baby French group, and have included the videos and resources (lyrics and colourful pictures) I made back then for you to print out and enjoy with your baby as you sing these timeless songs together. In each video, I take you through each song slowly to start with, and also help with pronunciation.

The Magic of Translation: The Benefits of Singing English Nursery Rhymes in French

English nursery rhymes, with their catchy tunes and simple lyrics, have been enchanting young hearts for generations. Translating these beloved rhymes into French is the perfect way to introduce young children to the joys of language learning, and offers a delightful experience for them to explore other languages through music. Other benefits include:

Language Exposure and Acquisition: Nursery rhymes provide a fun and engaging way for children to be exposed to a new language. Repetition and rhythm help in language acquisition by building vocabulary and improving pronunciation.

Cultural Awareness: Nursery rhymes often contain cultural elements and can be a gateway to understanding the customs, traditions, and values of a particular culture. This can contribute to a child's cultural awareness and appreciation.

Memory Enhancement: The repetitive nature of nursery rhymes aids in memory retention. Singing familiar tunes in a foreign language helps children remember words, phrases, and even grammatical structures more effectively.

Communication Skills: Singing nursery rhymes is a really good way to encourage communication and interaction. Children may feel more comfortable expressing themselves through singing, which can enhance their overall communication skills.

Development of Listening Skills: Listening to songs in a foreign language helps children develop their listening skills. They learn to distinguish sounds, tones, and rhythm, which are crucial aspects of language comprehension.

Emotional and Social Development: Singing together can create a positive and enjoyable learning environment, fostering emotional and social development. It encourages bonding between children and caregivers or among peers.

Early Exposure to Multilingualism: Introducing multiple languages early in a child's life can make them more receptive to learning and using multiple languages later on. This early exposure can lay the foundation for future language learning.

Stimulation of Cognitive Skills: Singing involves various cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and pattern recognition. Engaging in the process of learning and singing nursery rhymes in a foreign language can stimulate cognitive development.

Motor Skills Development: Actions and gestures often accompany nursery rhymes.

Performing these actions while singing helps develop fine and gross motor skills in children.

Boosting Confidence: Success in singing a nursery rhyme in a foreign language can boost a child's confidence in their language abilities. Positive experiences with language learning at an early age can contribute to a more positive attitude towards learning new languages in the future.

In summary, singing familiar nursery rhymes in a foreign language can be a delightful and effective way to introduce children to new languages, fostering their cognitive, emotional, and social development in the process.

Some English Nursery Rhymes Translated into French for You to Try:

Brille, Brille Petite Etoile

(Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Brille, brille petite étoile,

Dans la nuit qui se dévoile.

Tout en haut dans le ciel,

Comme un diamant éternel.

Brille, brille petite étoile,

Dans la nuit qui se dévoile.

La Tête, les Épaules, les Genoux et les Pieds

(Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)

La tête, les épaules, les genoux et les pieds,

La tête, les épaules, les genoux et les pieds,

Les yeux, le nez, la bouche et les oreilles,

La tête, les épaules, les genoux et les pieds !

Keep doing this with your child faster and faster until you are exhausted and crying with laughter!

Les Roues de l'Autobus

(The Wheels on the Bus)

Les roues de l'autobus tournent et tournent,

Tournent et tournent, tournent et tournent,

Les roues de l'autobus tournent et tournent,

Dans toute la ville.

Les essuie-glaces du bus font chui chui chui,

Chui chui chui, chui chui chui,

Les essuie-glaces du bus font chui chui chui,

Dans toute la ville.

Le klaxon du bus fait bip bip bip,

Bip bip bip, bip bip bip,

Le klaxon du bus fait bip bip bip,

Dans toute la ville.

Le bébé du bus fait ouin ouin ouin,

Ouin ouin ouin, ouin ouin ouin,

Le bébé du bus fait ouin ouin ouin,

Dans toute la ville.

Le conducteur du bus dit bonjour,

Dit bonjour, dit bonjour,

Le conducteur du bus dit bonjour,

Dans toute la ville.

Rame, Rame dans ton bateau

(Row, Row, Row Your Boat)

Rame rame dans ton bateau,

Sur la rivière,

Joyeux joyeux joyeusement,

La vie est un rêve.

Rame rame dans ton bateau,

Il faut un rameur,

Si tu vois un crocodile,

Pousse un crie de peur : Aïeeee !

Si Tu Aimes le Soleil

(If You're Happy and you Know it)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

frappe des mains (clap-clap)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

frappe des mains (clap-clap)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

le printemps qui se réveille

Si tu aimes le soleil,

frappe des mains (clap-clap)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

tape des pieds (tap-tap)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

tape des pieds (tap-tap)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

le printemps qui se réveille

Si tu aimes le soleil,

tape des pieds (tap-tap)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

crie bonjour ! (Bon-jour !)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

crie bonjour ! (Bon-jour !)

Si tu aimes le soleil,

le printemps qui se réveille

Si tu aimes le soleil,

crie bonjour ! (Bon-jour !)

On se Lave, On se Lave, On se Lave

(To the Tune of ‘If You're Happy and you Know it ‘)

Okay, I admit this one isn't a traditional English nursery rhyme... it's a really fun French song I made up to a familiar tune to sing with babies and young children at bathtime! It provides a great opportunity to teach the different parts of the body through lots of repetition (repetition is one of the keys to learning a foreign language).

On se lave, on se lave les mains,

On se lave, on se lave les mains,

On se lave, on se lave, on se lave, on se lave,

On se lave, on se lave les mains.

On se lave, on se lave les bras,

On se lave, on se lave les bras,

On se lave, on se lave, on se lave, on se lave,

On se lave, on se lave les bras.

On se lave, on se lave le visage,

On se lave, on se lave le visage,

On se lave, on se lave, on se lave, on se lave,

On se lave, on se lave le visage.

On se lave, on se lave les cheveux,

On se lave, on se lave les cheveux,

On se lave, on se lave, on se lave, on se lave,

On se lave, on se lave les cheveux.

On se lave, on se lave les pieds,

On se lave, on se lave les pieds,

On se lave, on se lave, on se lave, on se lave,

On se lave, on se lave les pieds.

Le Vieux MacDonald

(Old MacDonald - sorry there's no video for this one!)

Le Vieux MacDonald a une Ferme

I-A-I-A-O

Et dans sa ferme il y a une vache

I-A-I-A-O

Meuh meuh ici

Meuh meuh la-bas

Meuh ici, meuh la-bas

On entend que meuh meuh

Vieux MacDonald a une ferme

I-A-I-A-O!

chat (miaou miaou) = cat

chien (ouaf ouaf) = dog

mouton (bée bée) = sheep

File Download:

Click here to download the printable PDF file for the resources that accompany these songs:

English translated into French.pdf

Download PDF • 2.55MB

Conclusion:

In a world where communication knows no borders, introducing English nursery rhymes in French becomes a delightful journey of cultural exchange for young minds. Through colourful illustrations, catchy rhymes, and the magic of translation, children get to explore the rich linguistic tapestry that connects us all.

Whether it's the familiar tune of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star or the whimsical verses of other beloved rhymes, the joy of language learning is beautifully encapsulated in these musical bridges between cultures. So, the next time you find yourself humming a familiar nursery rhyme, consider sharing the magic of its translated counterpart – after all, the universal language of childhood is a melody that transcends borders.

Even if you're not raising your child in French, singing with babies and children just occasionally in a foreign language is still beneficial for many reasons. So give it a go and have some fun musical fun together!

Links and Resources: Embracing Songs in Their Original Form

While translations are a great way of learning familiar songs in a foreign language, it's highly beneficial for children to learn songs in their original languages as well. Singing traditional French children's songs (as well as French translations of English songs) is a great way to introduce them to French culture and language from a young age.

And remember, Frère Jacques (or Brother John) isn't the only traditional French nursery rhyme you can sing with your child! A link for my videos and resources for traditional French nursery rhymes is coming soon. Watch this space!