Ahh, that time of the evening when you are trying to put your child to sleep. We’ve all been there, trying to convince that energetic baby or toddler to bed. Lullabies, with their soothing and repetitive beats, are meant to lull to sleep small children, while also being a source of calm for adults alike.
At the same time, if you are looking for something different and to learn a little bit of French, I’ve put together a list of some of the most beautiful French lullabies that I hear regularly here in Paris with my own children, from our local crèche.
Many of the traditional nursery rhymes have more upbeat lyrics, so these berceuses as they are called, are songs are specifically for the evening routine. Sweet and enchanting, these French bedtime songs and music will transport your baby and should make the transition to sleep much easier (at least in theory!)
I will warn you though, the lyrics sometimes are a little nonsensical and some of them have a real whiff of desperation which all the tired moms and dads out there can attest to. Here is to keeping it real!
So without further ado, there are the best lullabies in French to soothe your baby to bed.
1. Fais dodo, Colas mon petit frère
You will notice that a lot of French lullabies have the word dodo in them. Dodo is Baby French slang for Dormir, meaning “to sleep”.
Dodo – French slang for Dormir
English translation: Sleep
I say “baby french slang” because there are a series of words that end in “o” and “ou” that are reserved for small children. Words like doudou meaning favorite toy or coucou meaning bonjour are most often used in the context of children.
In this song, there is also “Colas” which is short for the French name Nicolas (the s is not pronouced), and “lolo” which is another baby slang for lait (milk).
| French Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| (Refrain) Fais dodo, Colas mon p’tit frère Fais dodo, t’auras du lolo | (Refrain) Go to sleep, Colas my little brother Go to sleep, you will have your milk |
| Maman est en haut Qui fait des gateaux Papa est en bas Qui fait du chocolat | Mom is upstairs And she is making cakes Dad is downstairs And he is making chocolate |
| Refrain | Refrain |
| Ta sœur est en haut Qui fait des chapeaux Ton frère est en bas Qui fait des nougats | Your sister is upstairs and she is making hats Your brother is downstairs and he is making nougats |
| Refrain | Refrain |
| Ton cousin Gaston Fait des gros bonbons Ta cousine Charlotte Fait de la compote | Your cousin Gaston is making big candies Your cousin Charlotte is making compote |
| Refrain | Refrain |
You will notice there is a strange assortment of rooms in this song, with seemingly several kitchens. No matter, I’m pretty sure your baby won’t notice!
2. A la Clair fontaine
A rather sweet if melancholic song is A la claire fontaine. This song is a French classic, which just about every parent in France has heard a million times. But all those parents will be a bit hard pressed to explain the lyrics to their toddler!
| French Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| À la claire fontaine M’en allant promener J’ai trouvé l’eau si belle Que je m’y suis baigné Il y a longtemps que je t’aime Jamais je ne t’oublierai | At a clear fountain When going for a walk I found the water so beautiful That I bathed there I have loved you for a long time I will never forget you |
| Sous les feuilles d’un chêne Je me suis fait sécher Sur la plus haute branche Un rossignol chantait Il y a longtemps que je t’aime Jamais je ne t’oublierai | Under the leaves of an oak I dried myself On the highest branch A nightingale was singing I have loved you for a long time I will never forget you |
| Chante, rossignol, chante Toi qui a le coeur gai Tu as le coeur à rire Moi, je l’ai à pleurer Il y a longtemps que je t’aime Jamais je ne t’oublierai | Sing, nightingale, sing You who have a happy heart You have the heart to laugh I have it to cry I have loved you for a long time I will never forget you |
| J’ai perdu mon ami Sans l’avoir mérité Pour un bouquet de roses Que je lui refusai Il y a longtemps que je t’aime Jamais je ne t’oublierai | I lost my friend Without having deserved it For a bouquet of roses That I refused him I have loved you for a long time I will never forget you |
| Je voudrais que la rose Fut encore au rosier Et que ma douce amie Fut encore à m’aimer. Il y a longtemps que je t’aime Jamais je ne t’oublierai | I would like the rose Was still in the rosebush And that my sweet friend Was still loving me. I have loved you for a long time I will never forget you |
3. Berceuse de Brahms
This beautiful song was originally composed by Johannes Brahms in German, before being translated into French. It remains one of his most popular songs, with versions performed by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Rosemary Clooney.
| French Lyrics | English Translations |
|---|---|
| Bonne nuit, Cher trésor, Ferme tes yeux et dors. Laisse ta tête, s’envoler, Au creux de ton oreiller. Un beau rêve passera, Et tu l’attraperas. Un beau rêve passera, Et tu le retiendras. | Good night, Dear treasure, Close your eyes and sleep. Let your head fly away In the hollow of your pillow. A beautiful dream will pass, And you will catch it. A beautiful dream will pass, And you will remember it. |
| Repeat | Repeat |
4. Brille Brille Petite Etoile
The great classic, Twinkle Twinkle little star is translated into French, with slightly different lyrics.
| French Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Brille, brille petite étoile Dans la nuit qui se dévoile Tout là-haut au firmament Tu scintilles comme un diamant Brille, brille petite étoile Veille sur ceux qui dorment en bas. | Twinkle, twinkle, little star. In the revealing night Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. Watch over those who sleep downstairs. |
5. Frère Jacques
Unlike Twinkle Twinkle Little Star which was originally English and then copied into French, here is a song with a French origin that was copied into English. Here is the original version of the classic, Are you sleeping Brother John?
| French Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Frère Jacques Frère Jacques Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? | Brother Jacques Brother Jacques Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? |
| Sonnez les matines Sonnez les matines Ding, ding, dong Ding, ding, dong | Morning bells are ringing, Morning bells are ringing Ding ding dong, ding ding dong. |
| Repeat | Repeat |
You can find more classic French nursery rhymes here.
6. Dodo goutte d’eau
A rather sweet French lullaby with restfully pacifying lyrics is Dodo goutte d’eau. You can just imagine the rainstorm outside while listening to this soothing tune.
| French Lyrics | English Translations |
|---|---|
| (Refrain) Dodo, goutte d’eau Tout le long de la fenêtre Dodo, goutte d’eau Tout le long des carreaux | (Refrain) Sleep, drop of water All along the window Sleep, drop of water All along the tiles |
| Le vent siffle sous la porte Et le feu s’est endormi La chanson de l’eau apporte Le sommeil à ces petits | The wind whistles under the door And the fire fell asleep The song of the water brings Sleep to these little ones |
| Refrain | Refrain |
☞ READ MORE: Top French Children’s books by age
7. Dodo, l’Enfant do
A French nursery rhyme that is more like a prayer for every parent around the world. Dodo again in slang for sleeping, and this gentle calming song hopes your baby is having a lovely rest.
| French Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| (Refrain) Dodo, l’enfant do, L’enfant dormira bien vite Dodo, l’enfant do, L’enfant dormira bientôt | (Refrain) Dodo, the child sleeps, The child will sleep quickly Dodo, the child sleeps, The child will sleep soon |
| Une poule blanche Est là dans la grange Qui va faire un petit coco Pour l’enfant Qui va faire dodo | A white hen Is there in the barn Who will make a little hot chocolate For the child Who’s going to sleep |
| Refrain | Refrain |
| Tout le monde est sage Dans le voisinage Il est l’heure d’aller dormir Le sommeil va bientôt venir. | Everyone is wise In the neighborhood It’s time to go to sleep Sleep will soon come. |
| Refrain | Refrain |
8. Dodo poulette
Another French lullaby with rather nonsensical lyrics is dodo poulette, which if you read the lyrics, is not far from begging and/or trying to bribe the child to sleep.
| French Lyrics | English Translations |
|---|---|
| Dodo Poulette, Ma mignonnette Faites un tour, un petit tour Embrassez tous vos amours Toujours ! | Sleep my little chick, My lil’ cute one Take a ride, a little ride Embrace all your loves Always ! |
| Dodo Poulette, Ma mignonnette Si Alice fait dodo Elle aura un coco Tout chaud ! | Sleep my little chick, My lil’ cute one If Alice goes to sleep She will have a chocolate (milk) All hot! |
| Repeat | Repeat |
By the way, if you are wondering why there is a space between the word and exclamation mark in French, you can read about French punctuation rules here.
9. C’est la cocotte blanche
And speaking of illogical lyrics, there is c’est la cocotte blanche. I’ve added the lyrics and the translation, but really it is for the parent to make up the lyrics as he/she goes. The point of the song is not to make sense, but rather to rhyme.
| French Lyrics | English Translations |
|---|---|
| C’est la cocotte blanche Qu’a pondu dans la grange Qu’a pondu un p’tit coco Pour l’enfant qui fait dodo | It’s the white casserole That is carried in the barn That laid a little coconut For the child who sleeps |
| C’est la cocotte grise Qu’a pondu dans la r’mise Qu’a pondu un p’tit coco Pour l’enfant qui fait dodo | It’s the gray casserole dish That laid in the rebate That laid a little coconut For the child who sleeps |
| C’est la cocotte noire Qu’a pondu dans l’armoire Qu’a pondu un p’tit coco Pour l’enfant qui fait dodo | It’s the black casserole dish That laid in the wardrobe That laid a little coconut For the child who sleeps |
| C’est la cocotte verte Qu’a pondu dans l’herbe Qu’a pondu un p’tit coco Pour l’enfant qui fait dodo | It’s the green casserole dish That is carried in the grass That laid a little coconut For the child who sleeps |
| C’est la cocotte brune Qu’a pondu dans la lune Qu’a pondu un p’tit coco Pour l’enfant qui fait dodo | It’s the brown casserole dish That is carried on the moon That laid a little coconut For the child who sleeps |
| C’est la cocotte rouge Qu’a pondu dans la citrouille Qu’a pondu un p’tit coco Pour l’enfant qui fait dodo | It’s the red casserole That is carried in the pumpkin That laid a little coconut For the child who sleeps |
There is a similar lullaby called c’est la poulette grise which follows the same rhyming principle.
9. Ne pleure pas Jeannette
Speaking of begging the baby to sleep, we have “Ne pleure pas Jeannette“, which has rather interesting lyrics considering there was a revolution in France and there are no longer any legally recognized French princes or barons.
| French Lyrics | English Translations |
|---|---|
| (Refrain) Ne pleure pas Jeannette, Tra, lallallallalla lla llallalla lla lla, Ne pleure pas Jeannette, Nous te marierons, Nous te marierons, | (Refrain) Don’t cry Jeannette, Tra, lallallallalla lla llallalla lla lla, Don’t cry Jeannette, We will marry you, We will marry you, |
| Avec le fils d’un prince, Tra, lallallallalla lla llallalla lla lla, Avec le fils d’un prince, Ou celui d’un baron, Ou celui d’un baron | With the son of a prince, Tra, lallallallalla lla llallalla lla lla, With the son of a prince, Or that of a baron, Or that of a baron |
| Repeat Refrain | Repeat Refrain |
10. Douce Nuit, Sainte Nuit
One of the most beautiful Christmas carols is of course Silent Night, Holy Night, which in itself is actually a lullaby. The French version of Silent Night is just as lovely and soothing.
| French Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Douce nuit, sainte nuit Dans les cieux. L’astre luit. Le mystère annoncé s’accomplit Cet enfant sur la paille endormi, C’est l’amour infini. x2 | Sweet night holy night. In the heavens. The star is shining. The announced mystery is fulfilled This sleeping child on straw, It’s infinite love. x2 |
| Paix à tous. Gloire au ciel. Gloire au sein maternel, Qui pour nous, en ce jour de Noël, Enfanta le Sauveur éternel, Qu’attendait Israël. x2 | Peace to all. Glory to heaven. Glory in the womb, Who for us, on this Christmas day, Bore the eternal Savior, What was Israel waiting for. x2 |
| Saint enfant, doux agneau. Qu’il est grand. Qu’il est beau Entendez résonner les pipeaux Des bergers conduisant leurs troupeaux Vers son humble berceau. x4 | Holy child, sweet lamb. How tall he is! How handsome he is. Hear the piping Shepherds leading their flocks Towards his humble cradle. x4 |
11. Ma poupée chérie
We’ve all been there, the nights when the baby just won’t sleep. This rather amusing lullaby is for all the exhausted moms (and dads) out there.
| French Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Ma poupée chérie ne veut pas dormir Petit ange mien, tu me fais souffrir Ferme tes doux yeux, tes yeux de saphir Dors, poupée, dors, dors ou je vais mourir | My darling doll doesn’t want to sleep Little angel of mine, you make me suffer Close your sweet eyes, your sapphire eyes Sleep, doll, sleep, sleep or I’ll die |
| Ma poupée chérie vient de s’endormir Bercez-la bien doux, ruisseaux et zéphyrs, Et vous, chérubins, gardez-la-moi bien Sa maman jolie l’aime à la folie | My darling doll just fell asleep Rock her very soft, streams and zephyrs, And you, cherubs, keep it for me Her pretty mom loves her madly |
12. Au Clair de la lune
While most of the French lullabies have rather innocous lyrics, I had to throw this in here for the parents to have a laugh. Au clair de la lune is a beautiful nursery rhyme which is very popular, probably because it is long and soothing. But there are a few questionable lyrics in there.
If you read the words closely, there is a mysterious neighbor, some mild swearing, and people looking for a pen and a light in the middle of the night (which could easily stand for something else, if you get my drift). You can read all about those risqué neighbors here.
Nonetheless, the song is big hit, not to mention quite soothing for little ones.
And there you have it, do you have a favorite? If you enjoyed that article, you may like to hear more French nursery rhymes or French songs for older children here. A bientôt!
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